Crying "I am a soldier of Allah," 29 year old lawyer shoots and kills judge
Güncelleme Tarihi:
The Council of State, Turkey's highest administrative court, had been the target of heavy criticism from the government two months ago, following a decision ordering the transfer of an elementary school teacher to a different school when it was revealed the teacher was wearing a "turban" or headscarf on her way back and forth from school.
Turkey's current law on headscarves includes a ban on the "turban" in public offices, including schools and government administrative positions. Yesterday morning in Ankara, judges from the Council of State were fired one, one being killed, by a lawyer declaring he was the "soldier of Allah," and that the bullets were punishment for the controversial decision on the teacher and her headscarf. In the end, 29 year old lawyer Alparslan Arslan wound up killing Council of State judge Mustafa Yucel Ozbilgin, and injuring 5 others, 2 of whom are reported to be in serious condition.
Used lawyer identity card to gain access
In the wake of yesterday's event at the Ankara court, it has been revealed that Arslan had entered the court building the day before the attacks, but had been scared away by security detail there when he was found trying to force the door to one of the judge's private rooms. Arslan then returned yesterday morning, carrying a Glock brand handgun, and was able to pass through security at the Council of State building without being searched, showing his identification card as a lawyer to gain access.
Exiting on the fifth floor of the building, Arslan told the secretary on duty, "I would like to speak with Mr. Ozbilgin please." When the secretary told him the judges were meeting in a room next door, Arslan turned towards the room, and despite efforts by the secretary to stop him, entered the room where he began firing on the group of 6 judges and one tea server.
"I worked on my own"
Running and screaming "Allahu ekbar," Arslan confronted a group of police at the front entrance to the building where he was captured, though not before receiving a bullet wound in the foot. In his first statement to police after being captured, Arslan told police "I delivered the punishment for the decision on the turban. I made my own decision to do so, and worked on my own."