Turkish House attacker granted probation
Recep Akbiyik, the defendant who organized an attack on the Turkish House in New York, USA, appeared before the judge. Akbiyik, who broke the windows of the Turkish House with an iron crowbar, was given a 'probation' decision.
Recep Akbiyik, the defendant who attacked the Turkish House, which houses Türkiye's Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) and the Consulate General in New York, with a crowbar on May 22, was granted "probation". Akbiyik appeared before the judge at the New York Criminal Court today around 08:30 PM. local time.
Through a sworn interpreter, the judge read the charges of "attempted robbery, terrorism and possession of a weapon for a crime, making terroristic threats, criminal damage and menacing" to Akbiyik's face and ordered him to be placed on probation.
The judge banned Akbiyik from approaching the Turkish House and its relatives in any way.
The court set the next hearing date for July 25. After the court hearing, Akbiyik was transferred to the New York Bellevue Hospital Mental and Neurological Diseases Department in the custody of law enforcement officers to determine whether he was mentally stable.
CAUGHT 4 DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT
In a written statement from the New York Police Department (NYPD), it was stated that the suspect was detained on May 26 at 10:15 AM local time. The statement said that Recep Akbiyik, 29, was charged with "attempted robbery, terrorism and possession of a weapon for a crime, making terroristic threats, criminal damage and threats." Sources reached by Anadolu reported that the suspect was captured by the NYPD early yesterday morning.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "(US officials) The Turkish House there is a trust to you. You need to find this terrorist who broke the windows of the Turkish House with a crowbar."
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had also stated that they expect the US to quickly identify the perpetrators of the attack on the Turkish House in New York and provide the necessary protection to Türkiye's diplomatic missions as the host country.
ATTACK ON TURKISH HOUSE
Türkiye's Consul General in New York Reyhan Ozgur, in a statement to Anadolu correspondent on May 22, stated that the incident took place at 03:14 AM local time and that an unknown person approached the 46th Street facade of the Turkish House and damaged the consulate entrance doors and windows with an iron crowbar in his hand.
Stating that a total of 12 windows, including 2 windows of the consulate door and 10 facade windows, were damaged as a result of the attack, Ozgur said, "The incident was immediately notified to the New York Police Department and the police team was brought to the scene of the incident. The unidentified perpetrator left behind the iron crowbar he used in the attack and fled. We informed the local authorities that the perpetrator is expected to be identified and apprehended."
Ozgur said, "After the Turkish House building was newly put into service, we had requested the New York Police Department to allocate a permanent security booth for threats to the security of the building. Our request has not received a positive response until today. Today's incident has demonstrated how justified and valid our security concerns are."
Source: Anadolu Agency
