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Gunman kills 15-year-old girl at Istanbul campus before taking own life

Turkish police officers take precautions around the campus after the incidents at Bogazici University in Istanbul, Türkiye on May 13, 2025. (IHA Photo)
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Turkish police officers take precautions around the campus after the incidents at Bogazici University in Istanbul, Türkiye on May 13, 2025. (IHA Photo)
August 31, 2025 11:52 AM GMT+03:00

A 20-year-old man with an extensive criminal record shot and killed a 15-year-old girl at a cafe on Bogazici University's campus before turning the gun on himself, authorities said.

Ayberk Kurtulus fatally shot Hilal Ozdemir at Kennedy Lodge, a venue within the university campus that hosts wedding receptions, according to police reports.

Investigators revealed that the gunman had tracked Ozdemir's live location through her mobile phone before approaching her at the venue.

Gunman tracked victim through phone location

Kurtulus, who was not a university student, gained unauthorized access to the campus event, police said.

The perpetrator had 24 separate criminal offenses on his record, authorities confirmed.

The 15-year-old victim was working as a server for a catering company at a wedding ceremony when the attack occurred.

Kennedy Lodge, where the tragedy unfolded, is a campus facility regularly rented out for wedding ceremonies and private events.

Police and medical teams were dispatched to the scene following the incident. The prosecutor's office has launched a formal investigation into the case.

Security protocols questioned after campus shooting

The shooting has raised questions about campus security protocols. Sources allege that X-ray screenings are not conducted at campus entrances during wedding events, though this claim has not been officially verified.

Bogazici University released a statement expressing condolences and confirming cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

"We have learned with sadness that a civilian lost their life as a result of an armed attack at the South Campus Kale Gate of our university and that the perpetrator later committed suicide with the same weapon," the university said.

No additional details about the relationship between the victim and perpetrator have been disclosed by authorities.

August 31, 2025 11:52 AM GMT+03:00
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