YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. 3 persons were arrested after the attack on Demirci Turkish-Armenian family in Istanbul’s Şişli district, “Armenpress” reports citing Turkish “Hurriyet” newspaper.

After the crime Turkish police made investigation to identify the attackers. Law Enforcement Officials were able to identify the criminals’ faces by the records of the area’s cameras. It also turned out that the three persons, who carried out the attack, hired a car and travelled from Istanbul to Trabzon. It is here that the police arrested them. The criminals aimed at fleeing from Trabzon to Georgia with the theft. 5 persons who assisted them in several cases were also arrested.

Seta Ayda Demirci and Hagop Yakup Demirci were attacked on February 6 in their house on Cumhuriye Street in Şişli. Given the fact that the valuables in the house were stolen, it was thought that this is a robbery. However, Seta Ayda Demirci and Hagop Yakup Demirci were tied with hogtie and this fact suggests that this might be a hate crime. Attacked by 3 people, Hagop Yakup Demirci was suffocated. 

According to the initial investigation, the entrance door of the building was locked. Police investigators started to examine the footages recorded by the security cameras in the neighborhood. 

Seta Ayda Demirci was slightly injured in the attack and discharged from the hospital on February 7.