Andpope

Assassin in our midst: Mehmet Ali Ağca

By hdn

  • Shoots and kills Abdi İpekçi

    Ağca shot and killed Abdi İpekçi, editor of the moderate left-wing newspaper Milliyet, in Istanbul.

  • Arrested in Istanbul

  • Unsuccessful escape attempt

  • Escapes from Maltepe prison in Istanbul and flees to Bulgaria

    Ağca escapes after 153 days (ıncl. detainement period) from prison dressed in a military uniform. He flees to Iran until April 30, 1980, when he returns to Turkey.
  • Period: to

    Assasination attempt on Pope John Paul II

  • Enters Bulgaria

    Ağca enters Bulgaria with a fake passport under the name Faruk Özgün.

  • Arrives in Rome

  • Shoots Pope John Paul II

    Ağca shot Pope John Paul II in the abdomen and hand. The pope is hospitalized for 22 days.

  • Turkey approves death penalty sentence for Ağca

  • The pope visists Ağca in jail and pardons him

    The pope visists Ağca in jail and pardons him

  • Period: to

    On trial

    There were claims that the Soviet KGB and its Bulgarian counterpart were behind the assassination attempt, but prosecutors at a trial in 1986 failed to prove a link to the Bulgarian secret service.

  • Pardoned by Italian President Carlo Ciampi

  • Released on parole by a Turkish court.

    Released on parole by a Turkish court.

    Released on parole by a Turkish court.

  • Turkish Supreme Court annuls the release

  • Ağca applies for Polish citizenship

  • Applies for leave from prison

  • Anticipated release date