YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the information that, according to the preliminary data, there are Armenians among the detained suspects, accused in the attack on Turkish-Armenian Demirci family in Istanbul’s Şişli district, MFA spokesperson Tigran Balayan informed in the interview with “Armenpress”.

“According to the preliminary data, there are Armenians among the arrested persons. Ability to provide consular assistance is limited by the absence of diplomatic relations,” Tigran Balayan said.

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 it seemed this might be a hate crime. Attacked by 3 people, Hagop Yakup Demirci was suffocated. 

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

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.

Trabzon Chief Public Prosecutor's Office shared a statement that 8 suspects (5 women and 3 men), are Armenia citizens.