"Dive & Release": Toddler's Safe Landing in Dumpster Shocks Cat Munching Inside, in Nevşehir

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 29 April 2025)

      Dumpster diving Muhammed and panicked cat. 

In the Kapucubaşı neighborhood of Nevşehir, security camera 

footage captured the astonishing fall and safe landing of 

2-year-old Muhammed Nur El Muhammed into a dumpster.

The trash in the dumpster miraculously cushioned the 

toddler's fall, but a cat feasting in the dumpster was 

panicked by the youngster's surprise arrival. 

Passers-by saw the boy's fall and called police and medics

to the scene.  Muhammed's right arm was broken in the

fall, but he was otherwise OK. (Cat was too shaken to comment.)

 

"Thief & Release": Experienced Thief (Her 81st Crime), Swipes Gold Bracelet Off Store Window Mannequin, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 28 April 2025)

                 She felt naked without the bracelet. 

In Istanbul's "Kapalıçarşı" (Covered Market) on the evening

of 20 February, a jeweler  noticed that a 130-gram gold 

bracelet, worth 480,000 TL (about $12,500) was missing from 

the wrist of the mannequin  displaying it in the store window.  

The jeweler reviewed his shop's security camera footage and 

saw that the bracelet had been stolen about 24 hours earlier.

The footage showed the thief wearing a surgical mask and

glasses, while employing sleight of hand to whisk away the

bracelet in a flash.  Police determined that the thief was

Y.G. (36), who has a record of 80 (!) previous crimes, and

she was arrested in an operation conducted on 22 April. 

Don't worry, she'll be out soon and ready for number 82!

"Fleece & Release": Social Media Romeo Bilked Six Women for "Loans", in Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 28 April 2025)

                  The dashing, but slippery, Uğur T. 

In Bursa, Uğur T. (38), the father of two children, separated from

his wife 5 years ago.  In the years 2021-2024, Uğur T. entered 

into romantic relationships  via social media with beauty expert 

B.Ç. (33), finance expert Ş.C.S. (43), academician A.T. (50),  

accountant G.T. (33), and two others, identifying himself as an 

interior decorator and realtor.

After hoodwinking the women into separate relationships,

Uğur T. told them that the COVID pandemic had hurt his 

business, so he asked each of them for "loans", ultimately

obtaining 12 million TL (about $312,000) (!). Then, after 

repaying the women with a small initial amount, he broke

off each relationship.

                     Post-Uğur T. group commiseration. 

Beauty expert B.Ç., who was "with" Uğur T. for 2.5 years,

lent him 200,000 TL, anticipating marriage.  She said that

"While I was in a relationship with him, I took out credit 

lines 8 times.  This guy roams around all day, checking out

the women and choosing a victim."

Finance expert Ş.C.S. lent Uğur T. 1,200,000 TL.  She 

divorced 4 years ago and has two children, so when she

saw Uğur T.'s Instagram picture with his own daughters

she began to trust him.  

A.T. said she got to know Uğur T. in August 2024 via a 

Tinder-like app  and lent him 1,200,000 TL, too, in the

course of two months.  As for accountant G.T., she said

she lent Uğur T. 8.5 million TL. 

As for Uğur T., charged with fraud but not in jail, he

"explained" that "I was jobless because of the pandemic

so I couldn't repay their loans and got involved in crypto

money deals. I didn't defraud anyone, and I didn't promise

to marry anyone.  When I got involved with them, they 

knew I was in dire financial straits, and they lent me 

money of their own volition.  I'll pay them back, bit by

bit." (!) 

Uğur T. has high hopes for his new book...

"Beat & Release": Drunk English Boxer Pummels Taxi Driver, in Istanbul

 türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 27 April 2025)

         R.K. the dope in this "rope-a-dope" episode.

The incident occurred at about two o'clock in the morning last

night in the Göktürk neighborhood of Eyüpsultan district ,

Istanbul.  Taxi driver Kadir Biçer (56) picked up drunken 

English boxer R.K. at Istanbul Airport and headed to Beyoğlu 

to drop him off.   Two taxis left the airport together, but when 

the lead driver lost track of Biçer, he turned around and fouınd

him beaten and unconscious (!). 

Biçer is now in intensive care in a hospital.  Police learned 

that a fare dispute erupted between Biçer and R.K., whom 

they tracked down and jailed.  Biçer's older brother Hüseyin

Biçer related that "other taxi drivers at the airport had refused

to take R.K. because he was drunk, but my brother took him. 

Even though he's in jail, we're afraid he'll get off scot-free 

because he's a foreigner."  

"Speak & Release": Turk Forgets Turkish and Talks in Danish After Brain Blood Clot, in Konya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 April 2025)

                 Rahmi bey's new nickname is "Hamlet".

After living in Denmark for 20 years, Rahmi Kandemir, the

father of 7 children, returned to Konya 10 years ago.  Last

week he had a knee operation in a Konya hospital, but two

days later a blood clot developed in one of the large veins

in the left side of his brain.  The clot was quickly remedied

and his situation began to improve. 

However (!),  Kandemir then began speaking Danish and 

could not speak his native Turkish.  Prof. Dr. Gökhan 

Özdemir, a hospital neurologist, noted that such a phenomenon

is rarely seen in medical literature.  He explained that "When

people who know a number of languages suffer a brain blood

clot or bleeding in the brain, they may forget some of the 

languages and begin to speak a language they know from the

past.  

Dr. Özdemir expects Rahmi bey will again begin to speak

Turkish.  His daughter Meral Kandemir said that "He hadn't

spoken Danish for quite some time so when he began to, we

were shocked.  He understands Turkish but cannot speak it.

Rahim bey himself  said that "there's Danish in my brain

and not a bit of Turkish." (!)

Just get a knee operation first: 

"Beat & Release": Irate Hubby Pursued and Shot Estraged Wife, But Missed - She's Fine and He's in Jail, in Amasra

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 15 April 2025)

A rare happy ending for the lady involved in such events.

Ahsen Nur Paşalı (27), the mother of two children and then

living in Ankara, filed for divorce from her husband of

7 years Okan Paşalı (30) because he beat her.  Okan bey was 

taken into custody but released on judicial supervision, 

prompting Ahsan Nur hanım to take refuge with her older

sister in Amasra district of Bartın province, 300 kilometers

from Ankara. 

Last year on 27 August, Okan bey went to Bartın with a

friend and shot at Ahsan Nur hanım walking on the sidewalk

with a "pompalı tüfenk" (pump-action rifle).  She suffered only

superficial scrapes and was released from a hospital. 

Meanwhile, Okan bey and his friend U.G.  fled to Cide 

district of Kastamonu province, where they were arrested.

                        Okan bey got the worst of it.

A criminal case was opened against the two suspects, with

a sentence of from 13 to 20 years requested.  The first 

hearing in the case occurred the day before yesterday,

with Okan bey "explaining" that "on the day of the incident

I got out of my car and asked her 'where are my children?',

to which she responded 'are you their father?' (!).  Hearing

this I grabbed the pumpalı tüfenk I keep in my car and

tried to scare her with it, firing at her feet.  I wasn't trying

to kill her and I hadn't planned any such thing."

As for Ahsen Nur hanım, she told the court that "He had

been sending me messages for a few days before the incident

and continually harassing my family.  For example, he broke

the windows at my father's workplace.  He wasn't aiming at

my feet, he aimed directly to kill me."

Hapless U.G. said that he had only come along for the ride,

with the idea of having a vacation (!).  He added that he did

not know Ahsen Nur hanım and pleaded for acquittal.  The

court ruled that Okan bey's incarceration will continue as

the trial proceeds, but that U.G. would be released on 

judicial supervision. 

"Beat & Release": Terrible Teenage Twins Fire on Nightclubs to Avenge Beating, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 23 April 2025)

                            The Terrible Twins now...

The day before yesterday at about seven-thirty in the morning

in the Taksim Square area of Beyoğlu, Istanbul, two suspects 

came on a motorcycle and fired on two nightclubs, before 

fleeing on their motorcycle.  There were no deaths or injuries

in the incident. 

Police began to investigate past events at the nightclubs for

clues to the attackers' identity and they saw that two individuals

involved in an incident there in 2024 had  fled on a motorcycle.

The individuals in the 2024 security camera footage and in the

that of the current incident resembled each other. 

Seven hours later, police apprehended twin brothers (!) Emre D.

and Rauf D. (19) and seized the gun they used in the attack.  The

suspects "explained" to police that last year when they went to

one of the nightclubs they were beaten by 18 people and thrown

out, inciting a feeling of revenge in them.  The twin brothers 

already had a police record of 4 crimes so they were jailed. 

...and then. 

"Beat & Release": Attacking Seagulls Grounded by Plastic Egg Ruse, in Croatia

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 22 April 2025)

               Jonathan Livingston would be horrified. 

In Croatia's Istria region on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, seagulls

have been attacking both tourists and local residents, snatching

sandwiches, harassing cats and dogs, and creating panic.  

To address the problem, local authorities have come up with a

novel idea: switching the seagulls' real nest eggs with plastic 

ones, such that the seagulls don't realize the change and wait

in their nests for hatching that will never happen - and keeping

them out of the air. 

The plan is to substitute 2,000 plastic eggs in the seagulls'

nests this year (!). 

"Beat & Release": Winner of "Ultimate Cat Fight" Nabbed, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 20 April 2025) 

Contestants Sevil hanım and Elif hanım before match.

In Istanbul, social media phenom Elif Kırav (29) and actress

Sevil Akdağ (32)  went out for drinks together the night 

before last and then returned to the Gelincik Apartment in

the İskenderpaşa neighborhood of Fatih district, where they

continued to drink.  Toward dawn, the two got into an argument

and Sevil hanım stabbed Elif hanım multiple times in the head,

neck, chest and back, killing her.  Sevil hanım then cut her own

wrists and fled the building in a panic. (!)

A neighbor, awoken by the screaming, saw a woman in black

descending the staircase.  Later that same day, Elif hanım's 

mother came to the apartment building when she didn't hear 

from her daughter.  Entering the flat, she was confronted with

Elif hanım's dead body and called the police.

Security camera footage showed Sevil hanım leaving the 

building at 0632 hours, holding a black bag in her hand. 

Police tracked her to Esenyurt district and took her into 

custody.  In her statement, Sevil hanım had trouble

recalling details of the night but said she and Elif hanım

were close friends, yet they got into a fierce argument

toward dawn and attacked each other. Sevil hanım was

jailed. 

Ladies played this game till the wee hours...then it

got way too real.

Beat & Release: Iranian's Video Death Threat Ends Badly - for Him, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 19 April 2025)

                    Have Gun, Will Travel...Get Caught

Y.K. (45), who lives in Istanbul, contacted the police on 

5 February in regard to a threat he'd received from Iranian

A.N.  According to Y.K., he had never met A.N. but knew

that A.N. and his brother-in-law were in business together in

Iran.

In any case, A.N. called Y.K. on a video chat and demanded

15 million TL-worth of Iranian money (nearly $400,000)

brandishing a gun during the video call.  Y.K. told police

that A.N. had previously come to a cargo company in Fatih, 

Istanbul, and had persisted with the threats. 

Police investigated and determined that A.N. would fly into

Istanbul Airport at 2025 hours on 4 April.  He was nabbed

at the airport by police and jailed. 

"Beat & (Early) Release": Killer Stabs Estranged Wife - He'd Left Prison Early After Killing His Brother in 2016

türkçe links to original Turkish article

                               He's got "the look"...

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 17 April 2025)

The night before last at about eleven-thirty in Samsun's Canik 

district, Emine Akpınar (36), the mother of three children, was

returning home from shopping when she encountered her

estranged husband Emrah Akpınar (28) , a TIR (tractor-trailer) 

driver.

An argument ensued and as Emine hanım tried to escape, 

Emrah bey shot her repeatedly and fled the scene.  Police 

arrived but it was too late to save Emine hanım.  

Efforts began to track down Emrah bey.  A statement was 

taken from Ali Özcan (25), the son of  Emrah bey's sister.

Ali bey "explained" that his uncle had taken him along to

the scene of the incident, but he claimed he heard no gunshot

sounds (!).  Afterwards, according to Ali bey, he got out of

the car at Naklhyeciler Sitesi and left the car to Emrah bey. 

Ali bey was incarcerated.  It turned out that in 2016, Emrah

bey had stabbed his older brother İdris Akpınar (then 33) to 

death and was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in jail.

However (!),  (for some unknown reason!) a few years ago

he left prison early.

"Beat & Release": Extortionist Hid from Police in Rooftop Bird Cage, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 16 April 2025)

                  Birds ratted him out to the cops. 

In Istanbul's Beykoz district at about 6 o'clock in the morning

on 22 February, homeowner Ç.B. was awakened by noise 

coming from the bedroom bathroom.  Ç.B. then saw that the

bathroom ceiling was damaged and there was a bullet casing

on the floor.  Ç.B. called police and told them he had no 

enemies that would do such a thing. 

In a statement given to the police by İ.Y., another resident at

the same address, he said that on 19 February, a telephone caller

told him that "You owe G.Ê. 600,000 Euros.  If you don't pay

up I'll shoot you in the head!"  Evidently, İ.Y. was the target

of the extortionists, who mistakenly went to Ç,.B.'s home. (!)

The police investigation intensified and on 18 March 

simultaneous early morning raids were conducted on 

addresses in Beyoğlu, Esenyurt, Eyüpsultan, Şişli and Sarıyer.

S.S. (28), HebunY. (29) and Baran A. (18), who has a police 

record of 14 crimes, were taken into custody.  One of them tried 

to hide in a bird cage (!) on the roof of a hotel in Beyoğlu but 

was nabbed.  

After processing at the police station on 21 March, S.S. was

released on judicial supervision and Hebun Y. and Baran A.

were jailed. 

From Beykoz to Beyoğlu, as the crow flies...

"Fleece & Release": Magically (!) , Gold He Bought Turned Into Silver, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 15 April 2025)

                               Actually, it's chocolate.

İhsan Y., who is involved in the wholesale jewelry business in

Kayseri, bought three kilograms of  gold from the Covered 

Bazaar in Istanbul on 7 June 2024.  İhsan Y. didn't want to 

travel with the gold back to Kayseri so he entrusted it to 

Gökhan T. and Özkan T., with whom he had worked for quite

some time. 

However (!), when İhsan Y. returned to the T's shop he noticed

there was something different in the bag he'd left the gold in.

Opening the bag, he saw that instead of gold there was silver.

The T's "suggested" that initially İhsan Y. had been given 3

kilograms of silver, rather than gold.  

İhsan Y. went back to the store where he'd purchased the 

gold and looked at security camera footage, which confirmed

that he had purchased gold there.  Next, he went back to the

T's store and asked to view their camera footage to prove that

he'd left them gold, rather than silver.  However (!), that portion 

of the footage had (somehow!) been erased eight times (!).  

This being the case, Ihsan Y. filed a police complaint against

the T's, who both denied guilt.  Nevertheless, Gökhan T. was 

sentenced to 2 years in jail and fined 14,600 TL, while Özkan

T. was sentenced to 1 year in jail and fined 10,940 TL. 

Not letting the matter end there, İhsan Y. has filed a civil suit

against the T's, asking for 500,000 TL in compensation

because his name had been besmirched in the jewelry sector

in Kayseri.  

Gökhan T.: "what?"

TNT History Archives: Indonesia's Former President Sukarno Left Turkey With an Unappreciated Souvenir (April 1959)

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Cumhuriyet Newspaper, 13 April 2025)

        All the papers are talking about it!!

On the occasion of the visit of the current Indonesian President

to Turkey, one of his predecessor's visit was recalled with red

faces:

"The date was 28 April 1959. As opposed to the current president

(Subianto), Sukarno was a rather uncouth fellow.  In any case, 

Sukarno asked for a "favor" so the Istanbul Police's Morals 

Bureau went into action and had the famous "madam" Lüks 

Nermin direct one her young and lovely "employees" to

attend to Sukarno's wish.  (!)  It is hard to fathom how this event 

was recorded in the Foreign Ministry's protocol register.

After the completion of Sukarno's official - and non-official -

activities in Turkey, he returned to Indonesia, from where he

sent a message that was anything but grateful for the 

"hospitality"  he was shown.  Sukarno related angrily that 

Lüx Nermin's "employee" had  infected him with a sexually

transmitted disease. "(!) 

                      Sukarno aimed for the stars.

"Beat & Release": Enraged Teenager Kills Estranged Girlfriend's Mom and Stabs Her, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 April 2025)

                                      These kids today...

In Istanbul's Esenyurt district the day before yesterday,  Hasan

Evran (17) went to the home of  his estranged girlfriend Melisa

N.G. (17) to try to make up.  When her mother Sevda G. (49)

answered the door, Evran burst in and began arguing with Sevda

hanım.  He then grabbed a hammer he came upon in the house 

and smashed it on Sevda hanım's head numerous times, killing

her. 

Evran then waited in the house for four hours (!)  until Melisa

returned from her internship at 1945 hours.  When she came

in and saw the horrific scene Evran stabbed Melisa in her neck.

There are, of course, opposite examples...

Medics arrived and found Sevda hanım's dead body.  Melisa was

taken to a hospital and her condition is not considered serious. 

Police learned Evran's home address in Bahçeşehir from his 

school teacher and nabbed him there.  The hammer he used in

the attack on Sevda hanım was found in a garbage can.

"Beat & Release": Maniac Takes Exception to "Sidelong Glance" and Kills Glancer, in Kars

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 11 April 2025)

                   Best advice: Just look straight ahead.

In Kağızman district of Kars province, at around 4 o'clock in the

afternoon on  6 April,  Yakup Aydın (32) was sitting with a friend

in a cafeteria.  The two got up and headed for the exit. 

However (!), Specialist Sergeant Selman K. (29), sitting by 

himself at a table and looking at his telephone, went up to 

the Aydın and said "why did you look at me sideways?!" 

(famously known in Turkey as a "yan bakma" incident). 

A fight ensued between the Aydın and Selmak K., who then

pulled a gun from his waist and fired at Aydın, who was fleeing

down a staircase.  Aydın died at a hospital and Selman K. was

brought to the courthouse in Kars city, after which he was 

jailed. 

"Fleece & Release": 38 Customs Officials Caught on Secret Camera Taking Bribes, in Kapıkule

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 9 April 2025)

                   They get you coming and going.

At the Kapıkule border crossing on the Bulgarian frontier, 

some customs officials were demanding bribes from those

wanting to enter and exit Turkey.  Based on tips, the Edirne

public prosecutor began an investigation and placed a secret

camera to monitor the officials. 

The Gendarmerie identified 38 customs officials taking bribes

from the secret camera footage and took them all into custody

in simultaneous raids at their home, where searches revealed

$14,600, 21,325 Euros, and 89,800 TL.  In addition, warrants

were issued for the arrest of 350 individuals who paid (!) bribes.

"Trump & Release": Double Murder at "Trump Apart" B&B, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 8 April 2025)

                                 What's in a name?...

The night before last at the Trump Apart (!) B&B on Yavru 

Kuş Street in the Kuştepe neighborhood of Istanbul's Şişli

district, there was a double murder.  Gültekin Gezer and

Kader Küçükcoşkun, living in a ground floor flat in 

the building, answered the doorbell and four masked 

attackers burst in and fired on the unlucky couple. 

Gültekin Bey and Kader hanım, who was pregnant, died

in the onslaught, after which the attackers fled.  A person

in the building next door stated that "We were awakened

by the noise.  We don't know those two people, but they

hadn't been there for long.  The flats in that building are

generally used for a day at a time.  There's no way of 

knowing who's coming and going so we're afraid!"

Big brother a stone's throw away...

TNT History Archives: Once There Was a Railroad Station, in Fenerbahçe

Source: Turkish Railways Social Assistance Association

Fenerbahçe: A railroad station of the Haydarpaşa line, 

later eliminated.

In 1872, the Haydarpaşa-Izmit rail line became the second one in 

Anatolia, after the Izmir-Aydin line, and it was envisioned that it 

would link Istanbul to not only the rest of Anatolia but to the 

Baghdad Railway, as well.  The Haydarpaşa-Izmit line went into 

service on 3 May 1873, with stations at  Haydarpaşa, Kızıltoprak, 

Erenköy, Bostancı, Kartal, Pendik, Tuzla, Gebze, Diliskelesi, 

Tavşancil, Hereke, Darıca and Izmit.  Pendik was the last station 

for Istanbul commuters, with Feneryolu, Göztepe, Suadiye and 

Maltepe stations added later.  

The subject of this article is the Fenerbahçe rail station, which no 

longer exists.  Fenerbahçe was a favorite recreation spot during 

Ottoman times, right on the shore of the Sea of Marmara with 

plenty of greenery all around for picnicking and relaxation for 

families.   But it lacked direct rail service so people would have 

to get off the train at Kızıltoprak and walk down to Fenerbahçe.  

Consequently, at the request of Sultan Abdülaziz, a 1,756-meter 

long spur was built from the Feneryolu station, running across 

Bağdat Avenue and then following the road known today as 

Dr. Faruk Ayanoğlu Avenue to Fenerbachçe, where a two-story 

wooden station house was constructed – the Turkish Railways’s 

social facility still occupies this site, in the northeast corner of 

Fenerbahçe Point.    

The 1.8-kilometer spur went up a hill toward Feneryolu (Fener 

way), so named because it was the turning-off point to reach 

Fenerbahçe Point, requiring the locomotives to push the train 

from behind when heading north toward Feneryolu.  Barriers 

painted red and white,  stopped road and tramway traffic at 

crossing as the train passed along.  Special crossties were used, 

like those used in deserts that prevent the rails from sinking in 

the sand. 

Fenerbahçe station house was built by an Austrian firm and used 

as a station house in summer and as a police station in winter 

months.  During World War I, when an explosion of  ammunition 

being sent to the 4th Army in Palestine devastated Haydarpaşa in

1917, the Fenerbahçe station served as an alternative transport hub 

for supplies being sent to the war front and wounded soldiers 

coming from the Battle of Çanakkale in 1915 were received and 

tended to in houses in the Fenerbahçe neighborhood.  

On 13 November 1918, after the signing of the Mondros “Mütareke”

 (Armistice) that ended WWI for the Ottoman Empire, the Great 

Powers occupied Istanbul, with some English and French military 

authorities settling in Fenerbahce.  Subsequently, the Feneryolu-

Fenerbahçe rail spur was used solely for transporting ammunition 

and then shut down entirely until 1928, when it resumed service.  

However, in 1933 a tram began running in Fenerbahçe that 

obviated the need for the rail spur, so it was closed again.  

On 17 May 1936, though, the spur was activated to accommodate 

Atatürk’s visit to Fenerbahçe, for just that one day, after which it 

was shuttered for good.  There was talk of building a mansion in 

Fenerbahçe for Atatürk but he demurred, saying “building such 

a house for one person would be an exaggeration. Just let the 

people enjoy this place.”  The rails were finally torn up in 1970-

1971.

When the Anatolia-Baghdad Railroad was built in 1872, the station 

chiefs were usually either Armenians or Greeks.  And there was 

always a local grocery shop run by one or the other of these 

minorities. At the Fenerbahçe station there was the Tanas shop on 

one side and the Toma shop on the other.  The first station chief at 

Fenerbahçe was a Frenchman of English citizenship named Antuvan 

Efendi, who lived on the upper floor of the station house with his 

wife and daughters Katrin and Sofi.  The sounds of the girls speaking

French and playing classic music on the piano could be heard through 

the open windows in summer months, creating a pleasant ambiance 

around the station.   

Fenerbahçe Park, near where the station was, is now a favorite

spot for cats and the oldtimers they train to feed them.