KAYSERI — 2012 · Major Tragedy

Pınarbaşı Police Headquarters Attack

ClosedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

On 25 May 2012 a suicide attack was carried out in front of the district police headquarters and staff housing in Pınarbaşı, Kayseri. According to press reports, two PKK-linked militants had set out from Suruç to carry out a large attack in Kayseri; realising they were being followed and about to be caught, they turned to Pınarbaşı at the last moment and detonated an explosives-laden car in front of the police headquarters and staff housing. Police officer Ahmet Geben was killed and 17 people, seven of them police officers, were injured; the attackers also died. One of the wounded, İsmail Sakın, later died in hospital. The seriously injured were flown by ambulance helicopter to Erciyes University hospital in Kayseri. The attack hit both the police building and the housing where police families lived.

Date: 2012
Place: Pınarbaşı, Kayseri
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Closed
Coordinates: 38.7220, 36.3910 ↗

Timeline of Events

25 May 2012Two attackers carry out suicide attack at Pınarbaşı police HQ
25 May 2012Officer Ahmet Geben killed, 17 injured

May 2012Wounded İsmail Sakın dies in hospital
27 May 2012Investigation shows the attackers set out from Suruç

Sources

Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.