"Groucho & Release": Mustache Launches Local Official to World Fame, in Bingöl

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Haberler.com website, 24 April 2026)

                                      "What?"

While the political world is usually dominated by election promises, 

economic policies, or diplomatic crises, a news story from Karlıova 

district in Bingöl province has overshadowed all these classic agendas, 

capturing the world press and social media. Orhan Avcı, appointed as 

the Karlıova District Chairman of the Peace Party, has become a global 

internet phenomenon from his first day in office, not for his political 

identity, but for his unprecedented mustache.

The first official photo of Avcı, whose appointment was announced in 

April 2026, shared by his party, was shared by millions not only in 

Turkey but also across the globe, from America to Japan, and from 

England to Brazil, creating a digital frenzy.

The thickness of Orhan Avcı's mustache, which almost completely 

covers the lower part of his face, was most often compared to a "mask" 

by social media users. Following the viral photo, comments joked 

about how neat and full the mustache looked, like a fabric mask.

This mustachioed leader put Fredonia on the world map...

The sudden emergence of Karlıova, a quiet district, into the world press 

was met with interest by the local people and the Peace Party. Local 

party officials stated that the attention generated by Orhan Avcı's 

mustache increased curiosity about the party, adding, "Our president 

will introduce Karlıova to the world not only with his style but also 

with his services."

Orhan Avcı, meanwhile, is responding to this intense interest and the 

jokes directed at him with great maturity. Already a legend in the streets 

of Karlıova, Avcı is winning the hearts of his fellow citizens while 

simultaneously trying to keep up with interview requests from the 

international press.

Orhan Avcı, the most talked-about name of April 2026, is not only a 

fashion icon with his mustache, but also the most vivid proof of how 

easily the digital age transcends boundaries.

"Beat & Release": Hungry and Impatient Drug Addict Attacks 3 People With Meat Cleaver, in Iskenderun

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 23 April 2026)

                     "Have meat cleaver, will travel."

In İskenderun district of Hatay province yesterday morning,  Müfta

Sürmeli ordered a meal at a restaurant, only to be told by owner

A.İ. that the food wasn't ready yet.  An argument erupted and 

Sürmeli hit A.İ. with a meat cleaver (!) he had with him in the head

and stomach. 

Next, Sürmeli, having left the restaurant, attacked K.Y., who was

waiting at a taxi stand,  and wounded him in the neck. After that,

Sürmeli attacked M.Ç. at an ATM machine, with a cleaver blow to

the back.

Police arrived at the scene and A.I., K.Y. and M.Ç. were taken to 

hospitals. Sürmeli was nabbed and it was determined that he is a

drug addict who just recently got out of prison and who has a 

police record of 15 crimes.

Sürmeli knew none of the victims. A.İ.'s condition remains serious,

while the other two were said to be in good condition. Sümeli was

jailed. 

"Beat & Release": Good Police Work Nabs Teenage "Baker-Stalker", in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 22 April 2026)

              Following in her footsteps, with bad intent.

Irem Nur B. was physically assaulted by Emre B., who was following 

her, as she entered the apartment building where she lives. Emre B., who 

fled but was later caught and arrested, was found to have a police record 

for 'sexual abuse of a child'. (!)

On the night of April 19th in Kağıthane, Istanbul, a suspect followed 

İrem Nur B. (26) to her home and physically assaulted her at the entrance 

of her apartment building. When İrem Nur B. screamed, the suspect ran 

away. Hearing İrem Nur B.'s screams, apartment residents rushed to her 

aid. After İrem Nur B. tearfully recounted what had happened, a neighbor, 

half-naked, chased after the suspect. Another neighbor joined the chase 

a short time later.

Following İrem Nur B.'s complaint, police launched an investigation. 

Numerous security cameras in the neighborhood were examined to 

determine the suspect's escape route. In an operation lasting approximately 

12 hours, the teams meticulously tracked the suspect, examining footage 

from various locations, and identified him as Emre B. (19), who worked 

at a bakery in the Yahya Kemal neighborhood. The police apprehended 

Emre B. while he was making bread at the bakery (!). 

Will bake bread for fellow inmates henceforth...

It was determined that Emre B., who was taken into custody, had a prior 

police record for "sexual abuse of a child." The suspect, who reportedly 

stated in his testimony that he only greeted her and did nothing else, was 

referred to the courthouse after the necessary procedures. Emre B. was 

arrested by the court on charges of "sexual harassment" and sent to prison.

"Decease & Release": Stench From Ad Panel Leads to Grim Dicovery, in Antalya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 21 April 2026)

     Now showing! "A Foul Murder in the Ad Panel Leg".

In Antalya, cafeteria and municipal employees, while investigating the 

source of a long-standing foul odor, discovered the unrecognizable body 

of a man inside an LED advertising panel. It is believed he had died

 approximately a month ago. (!)

The incident occurred around 1:00 PM in Serdengeçti Park on Cumhuriyet 

Street in Muratpaşa district. According to reports, employees of the 

cafeteria located within the park had been unable to locate the source 

of a strong, foul odor for some time, despite their best efforts.

Suspecting that an animal might have died inside an LED advertising 

panel in the park, and that the odor was coming from this, the cafeteria 

employees notified municipal officials. Upon arrival, municipal officials 

opened the wooden base of the advertising panel's control panel and were 

shocked by what they found. They discovered a decomposed corpse, 

believed to be that of a man who had died approximately a month earlier. 

The municipal officials immediately notified the 112 Emergency 

Call Center.

Headed for a more suitable final resting place, one hopes.

Following the tip-off, teams from the Homicide Bureau, the Crime 

Prevention and Investigation Bureau, and the Crime Scene Investigation 

team were dispatched to the address. Due to the odor emanating from the 

body, the teams worked wearing masks. After examination by the 

prosecutor and police teams, the body, which had no identification on it, 

was taken to the Antalya Forensic Medicine Institute morgue for 

identification and determination of the cause of death. Police teams are 

continuing their efforts to identify the deceased.

You can smell it from here!

TNT History Archives: Roman-era "Piggy Bank"'s Coins Extracted With Dental Tools, in Side

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 20 April 2026)

                         And no need for novocaine! 

A Roman-era piggy bank found in the ancient city of Side, which 

remained intact for 18 centuries, caused astonishment. First, an ENT 

doctor examined it with a camera, then an X-ray revealed it contained 

495 silver coins. One of the coins, which were removed one by one 

using dental instruments, was found to be a 'fake'. (!)

Within the scope of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's "Legacy for 

the Future" project, archaeological excavations at the ancient city of 

Side, led by Prof. Dr. Feriştah Alanyalı from Anadolu University, have 

gained momentum in recent years. In the excavations in Manavgat 

district of Antalya, the historical fabric of the city has been significantly 

restored, and valuable artifacts have been unearthed. During our visit 

to the ancient city of Side, we listened to the stories of how these 

artifacts were discovered and their historical significance from the 

Head of Excavations, Alanyalı, and the Director of the Side Museum, 

Melih Kılınç.

The Side Museum underwent changes in its indoor and outdoor 

exhibitions last year, adapting to modern museum practices. Among 

the prominent artifacts in the museum's new exhibition area is a Roman 

piggy bank dating back to the third century AD. This rare piggy bank, 

which has survived intact to this day, contained 495 silver coins. One 

bronze coin, later revealed to be a counterfeit from that period, was 

also found. The counterfeit coin found in the piggy bank is also one 

of the first examples of counterfeiting in the ancient world. 

Excavation director Prof. Dr. Alanyalı and Side Museum Director Kılınç 

told Hürriyet the story of how the piggy bank, which could be the 

subject of a film, was discovered in 2012.

Modern "dental archeology".

Prof. Dr. Feriştah Alanyalı: "Our archaeologist colleagues found a piggy 

bank during the excavation. It was covered with soil. They brought it to 

the excavation house. They said, 'Professor, this is very heavy.' We have 

a professor who studies coins. He said, 'Feriştah, let's go to Akdeniz 

Hospital. I know a doctor there.'

We also took our Ministry representative with us. We knew an ENT 

doctor there. We got our tickets as if we were registering a patient. 

The doctor looked inside the piggy bank with a small camera used to 

look inside the ear. We saw that it was overflowing with money and 

coins. Then we got another ticket. We went to the X-ray department. 

We had an X-ray taken. It was completely full. Then we immediately 

handed it over to the museum. Our museum restorer kept the piggy 

bank in a solution for days. Then he took out the coins one by 

one with tweezers. There were 495 pieces. One of them was fake.,

It contained symbols belonging to different emperors. We had never 

seen such a complete piggy bank before. They usually break."

When science branches merge, wonders ensue.

Melih Kılınç: “This is a coin box from the Roman period, containing 

silver coins. It was found in the Archeopark area opposite the Ancient 

Theatre. The coins were removed one by one through the opening 

where the coins were placed, without the box being broken in any way. 

Our restorer kept them in a chemical solution, and they were removed 

as they dissolved using dental instruments and tweezers. These coin 

boxes are not usually seen intact like this. Because they were broken 

in ancient times, as well. This is one of the only examples that has 

survived intact to this day. We examined all 495 silver coins individually.

 

One of them was a bronze coin, a forgery from that period. There was 

counterfeiting back then too. Of course, numismatist Ahmet Tolga Tek 

said this. He said, ‘It's an ancient forgery.’ We are keeping the forgery 

in our storage. There is no forgery in the metal, it's bronze, but its 

forgery within its own period has been determined. The coins also 

have portraits of Roman Emperors and Roman Empresses on them."

"Beat & Release": From The Police Blotter - 3 Bizarre Cases, in Keşan, Ankara and Muğla

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 19 April 2026)

                        Should have stayed in jail...

In Edirne's Keşan district, Emre Pirinçustası (36), who was jailed in 2018

for the stabbing death of  junkman Osman K. (then 43), and who was 

released from prison last week (!), was shot dead by Osman bey's older 

brother M.K. 

After the murdur, M.K. left his car along the Keşan-Gelibolu highway

and fled on foot. However (!), M.K. was nabbed by police near the 
Keşan Commerce Exchange Slaughterhouse Administration, together 

with the revolver he used to kill Pirinçustası. 

********************************************************

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 19 April 2026)

       "Brad Pitt" look will be wasted in prison...or maybe not.

It was learned that Barış Mirza, who was determined to have instigated 

the murder of Burak Şen (26), who died in his car after being hit by 

28 bullets (!)in the armed attack on October 29, 2010 in Ankara's

Yenimahalle district, and who has been living as a fugitive in Georgia 

for 7 years, had returned to Turkey.

Police apprehended the suspect through their investigation and took 

him into custody.  It was determined that Barış Mirza had undergone 

hair transplantation, cosmetic surgery on his nose, lips, and chin to alter 

his appearance and resemble his brother, and that he had entered the 

country using his brother's identity.

Mirza was arrested by the judicial authorities to whom he was referred 

and sent to prison.

********************************************************

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 19 April 2026)

  Blossoming criminal career cut short by misjudgement.

Yalçın Demir Kırbaş (17), who had a warrant for arrest for various 

crimes, lost his life after falling from the roof of the building he climbed

onto while trying to escape from the police teams in the Yatağan district 

of Muğla province. 

The incident occurred around 7:00 PM in the Yatağan district. Police 

teams from the Yatağan District Police Department launched an 

operation to apprehend Kırbaş, who had numerous criminal records 

and outstanding warrants. Upon noticing the police, Kırbaş climbed 

onto the roof of a building. Attempting to cross to the roof of an 

adjacent building, he fell approximately 5 meters (!) into the building's 

stairwell.

Medical teams were dispatched to the scene following a report. Upon 

examination, it was determined that Kırbaş had died. The Yatağan Public 

Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the incident.

It was learned that Kırbaş had previously carried out a Molotov cocktail 

attack on the home of the family of Menteşe Mayor Gonca Köksal.

"Fleece & Release": Shepherds Took a Bath in Ankara, While Thieves Stole Their Cattle in Sivrihisar

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 April 2026)

                     Got a bath AND his herd back!

Four of the eight suspects who were found to have taken shepherds to a 

bathhouse in Ankara and who stole and sold 36 head of cattle worth 

5 millionTL (about $111,500)  from barns in Sivrihisar district of Eskişehir, 

were arrested. The 36 head of cattle, which were determined to have been 

sold in Bolvadin district of Afyonkarahisar, were returned to their owners.

Three individuals who came to Sivrihisar district took the shepherds 

working in the cattle barns to a bathhouse in Ankara. Meanwhile, three 

other individuals arrived at the barns with trucks, stole 36 head of cattle, 

and fled.

Following the shepherds' report, the Eskişehir Gendarmerie Command's 

JASAT Detective Teams and the Sivrihisar District Gendarmerie Command 

launched an investigation. The investigation revealed that the stolen cattle 

were taken to Bolvadin district in Afyonkarahisar and sold.

In a simultaneous operation conducted by gendarmerie teams in Eskişehir 

and Afyonkarahisar, 8 suspects were apprehended and taken into custody. 

36 head of cattle, with an estimated market value of 5 million TL, were 

returned to their owners. Following instructions from the Sivrihisar Public 

Prosecutor, the 8 suspects, whose statements were taken at the Gendarmerie 

Command, were referred to the courthouse. Four of the suspects were 

arrested and imprisoned, while the others were released.