Killing of journalist Güngör Arslan | Number of arrested suspects increases to 7

* Photo: Twitter

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Five more people have been arrested over the incident where Güngör Arslan, the owner of local Kocaeli Ses newspaper, was killed in an armed attack in Turkey's western province of Kocaeli on February 19.

As part of the investigation launched into his killing, Ramazan Ö. and Burhan P. were also arrested yesterday (February 24) while two suspects were released on probation. With the arrest of five more people over the murder, the number of arrested suspects has increased to seven.

The police investigation is still ongoing.

What happened?

Güngör Arslan, the owner and managing editor of local Kocaeli Ses newspaper, was targeted in an armed attack at his office.

Taken to the Kocaeli State Hospital after the attack on Saturday (February 19), Arslan lost his life. Examining the scene of the incident, the police caught the suspect who had fled the crime scene. Four people in total were taken into custody over the deadly attack.

He criticized the mayor in his last piece

In his last article published a day before his killing, Güngör Arslan wrote that Kocaeli Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın had given the tender for the Health City of 502 houses to be constructed by Kent Konut in Kartepe to his close friend's company Haldız Construction.

Güngör Arslan wrote, "Risking everything to save Haldız from the economic crisis he has found himself in, he has given the Kent Konut project of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality to Haldız Construction. [...] Tahir Büyükakın has to respond to these allegations."

He served 6 months for 'blackmailing'

Detained for "threat and blackmailing" along with Gündem Kocaeli Newspaper's owner Ümit Rende on March 21, 2021, Arslan and Rende were arrested. Spending 188 days behind bars, Arslan was released at his first hearing at the Kocaeli 12th Criminal Court of First Instance.

Arslan had been detained due to similar accusations and criminal complaints. After his Bizim Kocaeli Newspaper was closed following the coup attempt in 2016, Arslan was detained as a "FETÖ" suspect. He was acquitted in the trial, but his newspaper and property were seized. (TP/SD)