Prosecutor's Office Denies Claims of Perpetrator's Survival After Attack
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
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Named sources
Context piece
- Kahramanmaraş Chief Public Prosecutor's Office denied claims that İsa Aras Mersinli, who carried out an armed attack at Ayser Çalık Middle School, is still alive.
- Social media and news sites spread false information alleging Mersinli was not dead but had been kidnapped.
- Authorities have initiated legal investigations against those spreading misleading information and urged the public to rely on official statements.
The Kahramanmaraş Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has issued a firm denial of circulating rumors suggesting that İsa Aras Mersinli, the perpetrator of a recent armed attack at Ayser Çalık Middle School, is still alive and was abducted.
The claims that the perpetrator of the incident did not die and was kidnapped injured from the scene with an armored vehicle have been observed to be shared on some social media platforms and news sites, and it has become necessary to make a press release for the purpose of informing the public correctly.
These baseless claims, which have proliferated across social media platforms and certain news outlets, aimed to mislead the public. The Prosecutor's Office clarified that following the incident on April 15, 2026, an on-site investigation confirmed Mersinli's death. His body was subsequently transferred to the Kahramanmaraş Necip Fazıl City Hospital morgue for a standard autopsy.
The news spread that the person did not die does not reflect the truth, and the victims, complainants, and their representatives who are parties to the file have the authority to examine the photographs and images related to the death examination and autopsy procedures in the file.
The autopsy, conducted between April 15 and April 16, 2026, under the supervision of the duty prosecutor, confirmed Mersinli's demise. A burial permit was issued upon completion of the autopsy procedures. The office stressed that photographic and video evidence of the examination process is available for review by the victims and their legal representatives.
Legal investigations have been initiated against individuals who spread misleading information that could create anxiety, fear, or panic among the public, in accordance with Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code.
Furthermore, legal proceedings have been initiated under Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code against individuals disseminating false information intended to cause public anxiety, fear, or panic. The public is strongly advised to disregard unsubstantiated reports and to rely solely on official communications from state institutions regarding this matter.
It is important not to believe in shares containing false news and disinformation, and to follow the official statements made by public institutions and organizations regarding the incident.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Sabah in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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