Another Armenian killed in Istanbul, ethnic grounds suspected

A second ethnic Armenian has been murdered in Istanbul within a space of just two weeks in what may be a pattern that also left another ethnic Armenian severely injured.

According to reports by Turkish media, Ilker Sahin, a 40-year-old teacher at a local Armenian school, was murdered in Istanbul’s Kadikoy district.

Haberturk quoted Sahin’s colleagues as saying that they did not hear from him for some time and so decided to visit him. After finding the door to his apartment closed they alerted the police that later entered the house and found the body of the Armenian man with a slashed throat. A reported theory is that Sahin fought for some time with his murderer or murderers. The police reportedly ruled out the possibility of murder during a robbery attempt.

Sahin worked in Aramian school for nine years. It is not excluded that his murder is based on ethnic motives. An old Armenian women was murdered in Istanbul in late December and her throat was also cut. Another attack against an ethnic Armenian woman was committed earlier last year. The woman survived, but lost one eye in the attempted murder.

There is no indication that the police in Istanbul are now linking these three murders at the moment.