Police capture Üsküdar bus hijacker after 55-kilometer chase

Around 6:45 a.m. yesterday, Hasan Kılıç got on a bus the driver had parked by Üsküdar Square and drove off. Having witnessed Kılıç hijack the bus, driver Cevahir Kandemir informed the police and İstanbul Transportation Authority (İETT) officials. The police were able to locate the bus as it was heading toward Tuzla along the D-100 Highway, thanks to the Global Positioning System (GPS) installed on all city buses, and began pursuing the vehicle. Counterterrorism units were also included in the operation following suspicions that the incident may have been linked to terrorist activity. The police chased the bus as far as Tuzla's Bayramoğlu area, where the journey of the hijacker ended after 55 kilometers as police officers managed to stop the vehicle.

The suspect was detained and taken to the Tuzla Police Department. He was found to have no links to any terrorist organization.

An eyewitness, taxi driver Nurettin Keleş, said nearly 20 police cars chased the bus for around 30 minutes.

In his statement given to police the suspect said he had boarded the bus because he was cold. “I was cold outside and got on the bus to get warm. I started it to get warm. Later, I felt like taking a tour. I am receiving psychological treatment. I forgot to take my medication last night. I think I did all this because of that,” he reportedly told the police.

The 21-year-old suspect was reportedly exempted by reason of poor mental health from compulsory military service after his conscription.