This is the moment rival families trading at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar use knuckledusters, pepper spray and even souvenirs in a huge brawl.
The incident took place at the start of the month at the famous Grand Bazaar located in the Fatih district on the European side of Istanbul in Turkey.
Video Credit: AsiaWire
It is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with a floor space that stretches over 60 streets and including 4,000 shops.
It is also a massive tourist destination attracting up to 400,000 visitors daily, and with over 90 million visitors annually it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world.
The incident was reportedly a clash between the two families both involved in servicing the lucrative souvenir trade for tourist visitors.
One of the shopkeepers, identified as Erdal A., Together with his son Mert A., his wife and his brother-in-law were reportedly involved in the attack on their fellow shopkeeper. The rival who has the stall opposite theirs was identified as Erdogan A., and his son Ismail A. was also attacked.
Local media reported that the shopkeepers son had started by punching the other shopkeepers son Ismail A. full in the face with a knuckleduster. That prompted the rest of their families to get involved with five people attacking the injured young man and his father also using pepper spray and hitting them with hookah bottles.
Ismail A. was reportedly left with a broken jaw and an unnamed French woman’s leg was also injured during the punch up.
Both of the families later went to the Beyazit police station and filed criminal complaints against each other. The police investigation is still ongoing.
The incident was recorded by the security cameras in the Grand Bazaar where the attack is clearly seen on the father and the son Erdogan A and Ismail A as they stand in front of their shop.
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Story By: Sibel Abdiu, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder,Agency: Asia Wire Report
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