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Armed man with Turkish, Pakistani flags, Israeli flag underfoot closes Bosphorus bridge

A man holds Turkish and Pakistani flags while standing on top of his vehicle, with an Israeli flag beneath his feet, on Istanbul's July 15 Martyrs Bridge, Türkiye, Nov. 13, 2026. (IHA Photo)
November 13, 2026 11:35 AM GMT+03:00

An armed man climbed onto his vehicle on Istanbul's July 15 Martyrs Bridge on Friday, prompting police to shut down traffic in both directions as officers responded to the incident.

The unidentified man stopped his vehicle on the Europe-bound side of the bridge, which connects Istanbul's European and Asian sides across the Bosphorus Strait, before climbing onto its roof.

He was seen holding a handgun in one hand and the flags of Türkiye and Pakistan in the other, while an Israeli flag lay beneath his feet.

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Police close bridge in both directions

Police teams were dispatched to the scene after the man climbed onto the vehicle with the weapon.

Traffic authorities subsequently closed the bridge in both directions as a precaution, redirecting vehicles onto the dedicated Metrobus route, normally used by Istanbul's bus rapid transit system.

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The man's identity and the reason behind his actions were not immediately known.

November 13, 2026 11:35 AM GMT+03:00
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