Two More Detained in Probe Over Kidnapping of İBB Culture Official

An investigation into the alleged kidnapping of Erhan Karaal, the deputy general manager of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's (İBB) Kültür AŞ, has led to the detention of two additional suspects. This brings the total number of individuals in custody to 10. The Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is overseeing the ongoing probe into Karaal's abduction.

Authorities apprehended the two new suspects as part of an operation by the Robbery Bureau of the Istanbul Police Department's Public Order Branch. These individuals are expected to be transferred to the courthouse for legal proceedings after their processing at the police station.

Karaal was reportedly abducted by unidentified individuals in Maltepe. Following an investigation, police located Karaal at a construction site in Tuzla, and he was reported to be in good health. Earlier in the investigation, 12 suspects were detained in connection with the incident. Six of those were subsequently imprisoned, while the other six were released under judicial control measures. Further operations in Kocaeli led to the arrest of five more individuals, four of whom were identified as being involved in the kidnapping on the day of the incident. The total number of detentions had previously reached eight before these latest arrests.