Security camera footage has revealed the terrifying moment a parcel bomb exploded at the reception desk of a residential building in Istanbul, Turkey. The blast occurred just moments after a delivery driver dropped off the suspicious package and hastily left the scene.
The Moment of the Blast
The incident took place on January 11 at a building in the Zeytinburnu district of the major Turkish city. CCTV shows a man, understood to be a resident of the building, attempting to open the small package placed on the lobby's front desk. As he handled it, the device detonated violently.
The explosion blasted directly into the faces of the man and two members of the building's staff who were present. The force threw items from the desk across the reception area, scattering debris, documents, and shattered glass across the floor. Thick smoke and flames filled the space immediately after the detonation.
Aftermath and Emergency Response
As the smoke began to clear, the two staff members were seen fleeing the area, while the man who opened the package backed away, covering his mouth. The reception suffered significant damage, with a clean white patch left on the counter where the package had been placed.
Emergency services, including police officers, paramedics, and firefighters, rushed to the scene. The two injured staff members received initial treatment at the reception before being transported to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, both sustained only minor injuries and have since been discharged.
Investigation and Suspicious Delivery
Police cordoned off the building, and forensic teams arrived to conduct a thorough investigation alongside officers. The cause of the explosion is still under official investigation.
Speaking to the outlet EN.Haberlеr, one of the injured staff members, Harun Arkin, described the moments leading up to the blast. "The courier came and mentioned the apartment," he said. "When the box arrived, there was no company logo on the courier. I became suspicious." Arkin added that the resident of the apartment also wanted to open the box in the lobby out of suspicion and that he suffered an injury to his eye in the blast.
Another staff member working at the time, Berra Köse, corroborated the account, stating they were suspicious of the arriving courier. In recognition of their actions in preventing a potentially larger disaster, the staff were given a reward by the EVA Group, the company responsible for the building's security.
