Bulgaria nabs and extradites a suspect of İstiklal Avenue bombing to Türkiye

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Hazni Gölge, a suspect in the scope of the investigation on the deadly İstiklal Avenue bombing of November 13, 2022, was detained in Bulgaria and handed over to Türkiye yesterday (January 10).

Bulgaria officials extradited Gölge to the Edirne police officers at the border yesterday afternoon who handed him over to the officers from the anti-terror branch İstanbul Police Headquarters in Edirne. Gölge was brought from Edirne to İstanbul.

Gölge helped the fugitive suspect Bilal Hassan, who dropped off the perpetrator of the bombing to escape the country, stated Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, speaking in a TV interview, and thanked Bulgaria for the cooperation.

Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's investigation into the terror attack is ongoing, with a total of 59 suspects taken into custody, 24 of whom are under arrest as part of the investigation.

Six people were killed in the bombing on İstiklal Avenue on November 13, 2022, and 81 people were injured.

Ahlam Albashir who realized the bombing and 61 people suspected of aiding the attack were detained, 22 were sent in order to be deported, judicial control measures were ruled for 3 people while 26 were remanded in custody. (AS/PE)