10 detained over fatal ammunition factory explosion in Turkey

Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced that 10 individuals have been detained in relation to the ammunition factory explosion that claimed the lives of 11 workers.

Wednesday December 25 2024 11:33 pm

Duvar English

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç on Dec. 25 announced that 10 individuals have been detained in connection with the explosion at the ammunition factory in Balıkesir province, which resulted in the deaths of 11 workers and injuries to seven others the day before.

Tunç, who was in Balıkesir for some of the workers' funerals, stated that interrogations are ongoing but did not disclose the identities of those detained.

"A group of seven experts, including chemical, mechanical, occupational safety, geophysics engineers, and explosives disposal specialists, are currently conducting their investigation and will prepare a report based on their findings. The detention process for the 10 individuals identified as responsible for the explosion is ongoing, particularly regarding those who might have played a role in the incident,” the minister said to the reporters.

The minister stated that the individuals who have been detained are being held as a precautionary measure and emphasized that the responsible parties would be identified once the expert report is released.

What happened?

On Dec. 24, an explosion and collapse at the ZSR explosives factory in western Turkey’s Balıkesir province killed 11 workers and injured seven others.

In the explosion , Tuğba Demir (21), Çetin Karamüftüoğlu (38), Muhammet Ergin (34), Özlem Özçakır (33), Tuba Sert (41), Enes Kırmızı (28), Seda Akın (35), Seçil Çapa (24), Müberra Sönmez (45), Selin Karanlıkoğlu (27) ve Elif Özgür (19) are killed.

Zafer Topaloğlu, a board member of ZSR company, has previously faced fatal workplace accidents in the past. Reports suggested that workers in these companies were not allowed to unionize, and occupational safety measures were inadequate.

On June 4, 2014, an explosion occurred at the same facility, owned by Yavaşçalar A.Ş. at the time. The blast happened during the morning while compressing cartridges, and injured six workers.

According to the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette, ZSR Explosives is owned by Zirve Holding and Senta Mining. One of the owners is Ömer Faruk Kalyoncu, head of Zirve Holding, and another partner, Senta Mining, belongs to Zafer Topaloğlu.

Both Kalyoncu and Topaloğlu are known for their close ties to government officials and for securing large public contracts. Kalyon Holding has undertaken major projects, and Topaloğlu serves on the board of the Defense and Aerospace Industry Exporters' Association (SSI).