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A Spanish YouTuber and his friend were attacked by two men while filming on a motorcycle in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district after being confronted by individuals asking, “Why are you recording?”
The YouTuber, who was followed and beaten, said he was terrified. The incident was captured on his helmet camera.
The attack took place in the Tarlabasi neighborhood, where the YouTuber was riding with his friend when a man stopped them on the street.
After the tourist drove away, the suspect threw a plastic bottle at him and began following on a motorcycle.
Two suspects later assaulted the tourist but were detained by officers from the Beyoglu District Police Department.
The incident occurred around noon on Saturday, June 14, in Tarlabasi’s Bulbul neighborhood.
Spanish YouTuber Javier Ros Del Valle, 28, was riding his motorcycle with a friend when a man stopped him and asked, “Don’t take it the wrong way, but why are you recording?”
The tourist responded in English, “What?” before continuing down the street. Another man then threw a water bottle at him, and a second suspect began to follow him on a motorcycle.
As Valle rode away, he said in English, “I’m sorry, brother,” but a truck blocking the road forced him to stop. A man on another motorcycle told him, “No problem,” but prevented him from moving.
As the other suspects approached and attacked from behind, Valle tried to escape. He drove onto the sidewalk but fell after being struck. Suffering a knee injury, he fled on foot while recording the assault on his phone. His friend was also beaten by the suspects.
After the attack, patrol officers from the Beyoglu District Police Department arrested two suspects, identified as N.A., 17, and Sinan Cagri B., 24, as they tried to flee. Both were taken into custody for questioning.
They were charged with “intentional injury.” Following their processing, Sinan Cagri B. was released by order of the prosecutor, while N.A. was handed over to the Child Protection Agency. Police records showed that N.A. had 25 prior offenses, while Sinan Cagri B. had seven.
Valle later said that about seven people had chased him and thrown a bottle while he was riding through the neighborhood. He added that the incident left him deeply frightened.
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