Ankara massacre: Officials again escape prosecution over negligence claims

A decision by the Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to again dismiss the possibility of investigating public officials for their alleged roles in the October 10 Ankara massacre has sparked outrage. The prosecutor's office cited the statute of limitations for negligence as the reason for not pursuing further investigation, a justification strongly contested by the victims' families' lawyers' commission.

The commission highlighted that while the trial for the fugitive suspects in the massacre continues, crucial evidence surfaced years later. In 2019, nine folders related to the investigation were anonymously left at the Ankara Courthouse. These documents reportedly indicated that Yakub Şahin and Hüseyin Tunç, accused of escorting the suicide bombers to Ankara, were subject to an investigation initiated by the Nizip Chief Public Prosecutor's Office just ten days before the attack. The Nizip Police Department had also notified Gaziantep security directorates about these individuals in October 2015, requesting action, but no measures were taken.

“

The prosecutor's office cited the statute of limitations for negligence as the reason for not pursuing further investigation.

Previously, the Ankara 4th High Criminal Court had rejected a request to file criminal complaints against police officers. Following this, a criminal complaint was filed against responsible individuals within the then-Gaziantep Provincial Police Department for "negligent homicide," "destruction, concealment, or alteration of evidence," and "abuse of office." However, the prosecutor's office sought permission from the Gaziantep Governorship to proceed, rather than opening an investigation directly. An initial review report revealed that a wiretap order was issued for Yakub Şahin three days before the massacre, indicating he was under surveillance. Despite this, the governorship denied investigative permission.

The Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor's Office first ruled "no grounds for investigation" on January 3, 2025. An appeal led the Gaziantep Regional Administrative Court to overturn the governorship's decision. However, on July 3, 2025, the governorship again refused permission. Following a second appeal, the Regional Administrative Court, in a November 14, 2025 decision, once more overturned the governorship's action, ruling that the prosecutor's office should conduct the investigation directly. Nevertheless, the Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has reportedly taken no action on the file and issued a second "no grounds for investigation" decision on June 17, 2026. The commission declared, "The October 10 Ankara Massacre is a crime against humanity."

“

The October 10 Ankara Massacre is a crime against humanity.