10 people arrested over deadly racist attack in Konya

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In a statement about the racist armed attack that claimed the lives of seven people from the Dedeoğulları family in Konya's Meram, the Konya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has announced that 10 of the 14 detained suspects have been arrested. The written statement of the office has also indicated that the efforts are ongoing to catch the fugitive suspect.

According to the statement, suspects A.Ç, V.K, Y.Ç, Z.A, A.K, A.K, İ.K, İ.A, İ.A and R.Ç. have been arrested by the penal judgeship of peace on duty on charge of "wilful killing" while M.Ç, İ.Ç, M.G. and A.K. have been released with an international travel ban and judicial control measures, "considering that at this stage, the evidence has not been fully collected, the Historical Traffic Search (HTS) analysis is still ongoing, the criminal reports have not been completed and the digital materials are still being analyzed in the cyber analysis reports, proceedings are continuing as to where the suspects were on the day of the incident through camera footage and witnesses and they are related with the fugitive suspect, who is the main perpetrator of the crime and against whom there is a detention warrant."

On the other side, among the ones arrested over the racist attack, there are reportedly the spouse, mother, father and sister of fugitive suspect Mehmet Altun, who killed seven members of the Dedeoğulları family according to the camera footage revealed after the incident.

What happened?

An armed assailant raided the house of Dedeoğulları family in in Konya's Meram in the evening hours on July 30. He shot seven family members to death, set the house on fire and ran away.

Several police and paramedic teams were referred to the scene of the incident upon reports. The dead bodies of Yaşar Dedeoğulları, Barış Dedeoğulları, Serpil Dedeoğulları, Serap Dedeoğulları, İpek Dedeoğulları, Metin Dedeoğulları and Sibel Dedeoğulları were found at home which was first raided by the perpetrator, then set on fire before leaving.

Living in the same neighbourhood for 24 years, the Dedeoğulları family was subjected to the racist attack of nearly 60 people on May 12. "We are [ultranationalist] idealists, we will not let you live here," a racist group threatened the family and severely wounded 7 family members, including four women. Of the 7 people arrested after the attack, 5 were released. (KÖ/SD)