Man dressed as video game character stabs 5 in Türkiye

A masked man dressed up in a bulletproof vest and helmet randomly stabbed five people in northwest Türkiye on Monday, reported Xinhua.

The 18-year-old man, identified as Arda K., was detained after the incident, which took place in Eskisehir, some 230 km west of the capital Ankara, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported.

The attacker stabbed five people sitting on the patio of a cafe in front of a mosque and live-broadcast the incident on his social media account, the country's Daily Sabah reported.

The five victims were hospitalized, and two were in serious condition, according to the reports.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said local police have begun an investigation into the attack.

Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas said that the cause of the incident was game addiction, and the attacker was under the influence of war video games.

"I wish a speedy recovery to our citizens who were injured in this heinous incident, which clearly demonstrates the negative impact of digital games on the health of our children and young people," she said.