Turkey arrests 2nd suspect in Russian ambassador assassination
Turkish security officials have arrested a former employee of the country’s national telecommunications regulatory and inspection authority for his alleged involvement in the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Ankara, Andrey Karlov, more than a year ago.
An informed source, who asked not to be named, said the unnamed former Information and Communication Technologies Authority worker was arrested late on Friday.
A court in the capital Ankara later remanded the suspect in custody on the charge of “association in plotting manslaughter,” the source added.
On November 25, 2017, a criminal court in Ankara ordered the arrest of the chairman of the Guru Media Broadcast Group, Hayreddin Aydinbas, over Karlov's assassination.
Aydinbas had earlier given his testimony to Adem Akinci, a prosecutor from the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
He confessed that he had links to the movement of the US-based opposition figure Fethullah Gulen, whom the Ankara government accuses of having masterminded the failed July 2016 coup.
Aydinbas claimed that had broken away from the Gulen movement back in 2008.
An off-duty police officer in civilian clothing, identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, shot down Karlov as he was inaugurating a photo exhibition in Ankara on December 19, 2016.
After carrying out the murder, the assailant went on a rant caught on camera, which saw him bawling “Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria!”
The assassination, condemned by the Turkish and Russian leaders as an attempt to sour Ankara-Moscow ties, came amid cooperation between the countries over the Syrian crisis.
On December 21, 2016, Turkish-language Hurriyet daily newspaper identified Altintas as a member of the team providing security for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The paper said he had served in the taskforce ensuring that no harm would come to the head of state in public events. The group played second fiddle to Erdogan’s personal bodyguards.
Altintas had provided security for the Turkish president eight times since the botched putsch against Erdogan. Over all, he had served two and a half years in anti-riot police.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that Ankara blames the Gulen movement for the assassination plot.
Erdogan: Israel to blame for tensions in West Asia
Turkey imposes trade restrictions on Israel over Gaza war
Turkish police arrest dozens in pro-Palestine rally in Istanbul
Israeli airstrike kills at least 7 people in Rafah
VIDEO | Iranians hold nationwide demos in support of IRGC
Syria condemns US veto of Palestine UN membership resolution
Iraqi resistance forces hit Israeli Ovda air base
Hackers break into Israeli military’s computers, access trove of documents
Tulkarm Brigade commander killed by Israeli forces in raid on refugee camp
Zionist media desperately trying to turn Israeli defeat into victory: Iran
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
