2024 Eskisehir mosque stabbing
| 2024 Eskisehir mosque stabbing | |
|---|---|
 Kucukyetim minutes before the attack | |
| Location | Eskisehir, Turkey |
| Date | August 12, 2024 |
Attack type | Mass stabbing |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 5 |
| Motive | Misanthropy |
| Accused | Arda Kucukyetim |
On August 12, 2024, a mass stabbing attack took place outside of Tepebaşı Cami Mosque in Eskisehir, Turkey. The suspect behind the attack has been identified as 18-year-old Arda Kucukyetim. The attack was livestreamed on Kick through a camera attached to the suspect's vest.
Five people were stabbed and injured before Kucukyetim was detained by the police, one of these people was hospitalized in serious condition, but has since then recovered. Kucukyetims trial is set to proceed in Eskişehir’s 6th High Criminal Court. He is charged of five counts of attempted murder and creating public panic, if convicted he may face up to 108 years in prison.[1]
Suspect
[edit]Arda Kucukyetim was a self-described national socialist, prior to the attack he created a Telegram chat where he had a friend share the file containing his manifesto, documents written by other killers as well as photos of himself. Kucukyetim claimed in the manifesto that he was motivated by accelerationism, described people as "insects" and praised various white supremacist terrorists as well as other mass murderers. The manifesto also contained a warning of an incoming societal collapse and encouraged the reader to help achieve it using violent methods.[2][3] Kucukyetim described his attack as a "lone wolf" act that was meant to "motivate future generations."[4]
Stabbing
[edit]On August 12, 2024, Arda Kucukyetim formatted all of his devices and arrived at the vicinity of the mosque, once there he went behind a local barbershop and put on a helmet, ski mask and tactical vest, then started a livestream. He walked to the tea garden of the mosque where he pulled out a camping knife and slit a mans throat, leaving him in critical condition before attempting to chase down other people.[5][6] He would go on to attack people at random in the surrounding areas of the mosque, inflicting minor injuries to four more people[4][7] before getting chased and subdued by the police.[8][9] At the end of the livestream, a policeman was seen taking off his tactical vest as he lied on the ground handcuffed and surrounded by bystanders and police.[10][11] He was also armed with pepper spray and an axe at his waist that he did not use.[12]
Victims
[edit]The victims were identified by the initials of NO, TA, CO, CA and MK. According to Turkish newspaper T24, they were aged 87, 71, 57, 64 and 64.[11]
Investigation
[edit]According to authorities, Kucukyetim had initially planned to carry out a bombing attack but changed his mind due to safety concerns at home. Kucukyetim also confessed to investigators that the driving force behind the attack was his hatred for humanity, and not religion. He stated, "I did this because I do not like people and wanted to make a noise". Kucukyetim also claimed that he felt inspired by a 16 year old from Eastern Europe he had contact with, the teenager shared plans to commit a school shooting in their own country and allegedly encouraged Kucukyetim's plot.[1] Cybercrime investigators were unable to identify the person Kucukyetim communicated with.[13]
A psychiatric evaluation verified Kucukyetim's criminal responsibility, and an investigation found that he was fully aware of his actions. Prosecutors stated that his acts are ideologically motivated violence but not terrorism.[1][14] Kucukyetim stated that he had no contact with any terrorist organizations and regretted the attack, he also revealed that he had tried to receive help from a hospital's psychiatric service about seven months prior to the attack in an effort to overcome his depression, but had stopped taking his medication afterward for unknown reasons.[13]
Authorities charged Kucukyetim with five counts of “premeditated attempted murder” and “creating fear and panic among the public.”, he faces a maximum sentence of 108 years in prison if convicted.[1][14] A local Turkish court imposed a ban on media coverage of the event until the investigation is completed.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Neo-Nazi teen in Eskisehir knife rampage faces 108 years, planned a bomb attack". Turkey Today. January 9, 2025.
- ^ "Turkey Attacker Inspired by Accelerationism and Mass Killers, Manifesto Shows". Anti-Defamation League. August 16, 2024.
- ^ "Lone wolf or far-right plot: Who is behind mass knife attack in Türkiye?". Turkey Today. August 13, 2024.
- ^ a b "Neo-Nazi teen in Eskisehir knife rampage faces 108 years, planned a bomb attack". Daily News. August 14, 2024.
- ^ "Teen in central Türkiye stabs 5 while dressed as video game character". Daily Sabah. August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Wearing a helmet, a skull face covering and bulletproof vest". Reuters. August 13, 2024.
- ^ "'Nazi' teenager livestreams knife rampage outside mosque". Metro UK. August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Masked attacker stabs five people in Turkey and broadcasts rampage on social media". The Independent. August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Teenager wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest randomly stabs 5 people at a cafe in Turkey". Associated Press. August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Teen wearing helmet and bulletproof vest livestreams stabbing rampage by mosque in Turkey, authorities say". CBS News. August 13, 2024.
- ^ a b "Teenager stabs five at outdoor cafe in Turkey". BBC News. August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Turkey arrests teenager for stabbing attack at mosque". Al-Jazeera.
- ^ a b "108 years in prison sought for Nazi-inspired knife attacker". Daily News. January 11, 2025.
- ^ a b "He attacked the believers in a mosque with an ax and a knife, a sentence of 108 years in prison is required for the 18-year-old". Pamfleti News. January 11, 2025.
- ^ "5-injured in nazi insipred attack in Turkey". hispanatolia.com. August 13, 2025.