Details emerge of new indictment against the Casperlar armed crime group

An indictment involving 51 children has shed new light on the investigation into the armed criminal organization known as Casperlar. Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences for offenses ranging from membership in a criminal organization to attempted premeditated murder.

The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said it began the investigation to identify organized crime groups, expose their structures and hierarchy, determine their areas of activity, and clarify crimes committed as part of their operations. Police conducted numerous interim operations after receiving instructions from the Istanbul Police Department's Organized Crime Branch, and suspects involved in the alleged actions were arrested.

The indictment says Ismail Atız, known by the code name Hamuş and described as the group's leader, used members aged between 15 and 25 who knew how to ride motorcycles in actions against groups and individuals who might oppose him. It also says children involved in legal proceedings were used in the group's activities.

Searches carried out during the investigations recovered numerous weapons. Prosecutors said shell casings collected from crime scenes matched the seized firearms, helping investigators solve some incidents and arrest alleged perpetrators.

The organization allegedly selected and changed its communication tools to keep its activities secret, coordinate operations and avoid leaving traces. Investigators also determined that members shared recordings of alleged actions, along with videos designed to maintain the group's continuity and keep members together, through social media accounts managed by its leader and senior figures. The cases involving adults and children are continuing together before Bakırköy's 19th High Criminal Court.