Suspects in Istanbul killing of Palestinian ‘businessman’ captured in Romania

Three suspects involved in the murder of Palestinian businessman Abdulqadir Anas, who was shot and killed in Istanbul’s Kağıthane district on Aug. 18, have been apprehended in Romania.

The suspects, who fled Türkiye immediately after the attack, were captured following a joint effort between Turkish and Romanian authorities.

Suspects flee Türkiye hours after the attack

The fatal shooting occurred on the evening of Aug. 18 in Hamidiye Neighbourhood, Dilaver Street, when masked assailants armed with silenced weapons opened fire on a vehicle carrying Abdulqadir Anas (30), fellow Palestinian businessman Fadi M., and bodyguard Eray K., Anas died at the scene, while Fadi M. was critically injured, and the bodyguard sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.

Initial investigations by Istanbul police revealed that the attack stemmed from a financial dispute. Shortly after the shooting, three of the suspects, identified as G.S., T.S., and S.A., managed to escape Türkiye, crossing the border into Bulgaria before eventually reaching Romania.

Captured in Romania

Turkish police, working in collaboration with Interpol, tracked the suspects as they traveled from Bulgaria to Romania.

On Aug.20, 2024, the Romanian Interpol unit, responding to a diffusion notice issued by Türkiye, arrested the suspects as they were preparing to board a flight to Israel. The suspects are currently in custody and will be extradited to Türkiye for prosecution.

Mossad involvement suspected, mafia ties alleged

The use of an Italian-made Pietro Beretta Gardone VT silenced firearm and the rapid escape of the suspects across international borders have fueled speculation that the attack may have been orchestrated by Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad.

However, individuals close to Anas have denied any political connections, describing him as a real estate businessman with possible mafia ties.

Two rival mafia groups: Daltons vs. Redkits

He might have connections with the Daltons, aligned with Baris Boyun, or with another Turkish mafia group, the Redkits.

These two rival organized crime groups conflict their centers around control of the tribunes of Fenerbahce, one of Türkiye’s biggest football clubs. Cem Golbasi, supported by the Daltons, faces off against Ferhat Mardin, the leader of the Redkits, in a battle that has spilled over into Georgia.

This ongoing power struggle serves as a reminder of how deep mafia rivalries have penetrated Turkish society, extending from the criminal underworld into the world of football, politics, and beyond.

The attack type reminds us of these groups. Murder of Cumali Aslan from the Anucur gang.

The Daltonlar gang allegedly used social media to recruit members and was involved in a series of violent confrontations related to drug trafficking between the Anucur and Gündoğmuş gangs.

The conflict escalated with a shootout in December 2022, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old teacher, Ramazan Aslan.

This led to further violence, including a shootout on the Halic Bridge, where Cumali Aslan was killed, and a subsequent attack in Kagithane that resulted in the death of a police officer.

The indictment also links the Daltonlar gang to various other criminal activities, including an attack on Fenerbahçe fan group leader İbrahim Gumustekin, as well as connections to the Redkitler gang, which is involved in further violence and murder.

The gang, associated with numerous high-profile assassinations and armed conflicts both in Türkiye and abroad, continues to operate despite several claims of being dismantled.

The Daltonlar gang is also implicated in attacks on social media influencers Dilan and Engin Polat, who are under investigation for money laundering. The indictment highlights the involvement of former police officers and Fenerbahçe fan leaders in the gang’s activities, as well as their international reach, with members continuing operations from abroad.

Ongoing investigations

Besides the three captured suspects, several others believed to have assisted in the escape have been detained in Türkiye.

These individuals, identified as L.E.E., I.A., A.F.M.M., and P.Y., are currently undergoing interrogation by Istanbul police. The process to issue a red notice for the extradition of the captured suspects is underway.