A shocking act of violence erupted inside one of Turkey’s busiest courthouses on Wednesday, sending panic through the building and raising fresh concerns about courtroom safety.
During a live hearing at the Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals, a prosecutor opened fire on his ex-wife — a sitting judge who was actively presiding over a case. The shooting happened in open court, stunning staff, lawyers, and onlookers.
Authorities said the judge was struck in the leg and rushed to the hospital. Initial reports indicate she is in stable condition and receiving treatment. Police immediately swarmed the courthouse just after noon local time as the suspect was taken into custody and an investigation launched.
Photos from the scene showed a heavy security presence as officials worked to secure the building and piece together what led to the brazen attack. Investigators are now examining how the prosecutor was able to carry out the shooting inside the court complex.
The incident has drawn comparisons to another courtroom tragedy in the region just months ago. In Albania, a judge was fatally shot while presiding over a case at the Tirana Court of Appeals.
That judge, Astrit Kalaja, was overseeing a property dispute when a man opened fire in the courtroom. Kalaja later died from his injuries while being rushed to a hospital in Tirana. A father and son connected to one of the parties in the case were also shot and hospitalized.
At the time, Albania’s general prosecutor, Olsian Çela, condemned the attack, saying it struck “at the very foundation of justice and the functioning of the legal system.”
Kalaja had served in the judiciary for more than 30 years and joined the Tirana Court of Appeals in 2019.