Istanbul prosecutors allege 'Hat Wearers' gang demanded €10 million from Nişantaşı businesses

September 7, 2026 at 03:23 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Istanbul prosecutors allege the 'Hat Wearers' criminal group demanded €10 million from two Nişantaşı business owners, B.V. and S.V. The indictment claims threats escalated into armed attacks on four addresses and a funeral food truck sent as intimidation.

Key Facts

The indictment alleges gang leader Volkan Ramazan Ayhan told S.V. by phone: 'You will pay the street's due; I have fined you €10 million.'
Four addresses were shot at: B.V.'s workplace, S.V.'s brother-in-law C.D.'s parked jeep, a restaurant in Beşiktaş co-owned by S.V., and the home of S.V.'s uncle Y.D.
On 12 January 2026, a food truck was sent to the Nişantaşı business with an electronic sign reading 'Fatiha for the soul of the late S.V.'
Prosecutors charged Volkan Ramazan Ayhan, D.A., and E.K. with leading the organization, and A.T. with membership.

Extortion Demand

The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office alleges that the criminal group known as 'Hat Wearers' demanded €10 million in extortion from B.V. and S.V., who own businesses in Nişantaşı. When the business owners could not be reached by phone, threats were sent via messages. The indictment claims that S.V. later answered a call from a foreign number, and the caller identified himself as 'Hat-Wearing Volkan' — gang leader Volkan Ramazan Ayhan — and said, 'You will pay the street's due; I have fined you €10 million.'

Armed Attacks

After the extortion demand was not met, threats turned into armed attacks, according to the indictment. Four addresses were shot at: B.V.'s workplace, S.V.'s brother-in-law C.D.'s parked jeep, a restaurant in Beşiktaş co-owned by S.V., and the home of S.V.'s uncle Y.D.

Funeral Food Truck Intimidation

On 12 January 2026, the group sent a food truck to the front of the Nişantaşı business. The truck's electronic sign read 'Fatiha for the soul of the late S.V.' According to a report by Oda TV, an employee who did not want to allow the food distribution spoke by phone with a person who identified himself as 'Volkan' and used threatening language. Based on the evidence, prosecutors charged Volkan Ramazan Ayhan, D.A., and E.K. with leading the organization, and A.T. with membership.