Beyazıt Massacre | |
Location: | Beyazıt Square, Istanbul Turkey |
Partof: | Political violence in Turkey, 1970s |
Target: | Left-wing students |
Date: | 16 March 1978 |
Fatalities: | 7 |
Injuries: | 41 |
Perps: | Grey Wolves |
The Beyazıt massacre (Turkish: Beyazıt katliamı) or 16 March massacre (Turkish: 16 Mart katliamı) of 16 March 1978 was the massacre of students at Istanbul University, in which 7 died and 41 were injured in a bomb-and gun attack. The head of the Istanbul branch of the Grey Wolves, Orhan Çakıroğlu, was sentenced to 11 years in 1980; he was released on appeal in 1982. After the 30-year statute of limitations expired the mother of one of the shooters admitted his involvement, and said he had received orders from a police officer. A witness said the police did not pursue the attackers at the scene.[1] [2] [3] [4]
The 7 students killed in the massacre were: