Turkish police detain suspect in murder of sports supporter

BELGRADE - Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic told Tanjug on Friday that Turkish Ambassador to Belgrade Mehmet Bozay has informed him that K. A., a Turkish national, has been detained by police on suspicion of having killed Serbian sports supporter Marko Ivkovic.

Marko Ivkovic, 25, was stabbed to death outside Istanbul's Abdi Ipekci Arena before the Euroleague basketball match between Red Star Belgrade and Galatasaray on November 21.

Earlier on, Turkish police said that seven people had meanwhile been arrested in the investigation of the murder.

The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs received on Friday the official confirmation from the Turkish police that seven persons have been detained in connection with the murder of Serbian national Marko Ivkovic.

According to the ministry, the Turkish police informed the Serbian Consulate General in Istanbul that there is sufficient evidence to indicate that the detained suspects are involved in this crime and that the case will be referred to the public prosecutor for further processing.

The identity of the suspects will be made public in the coming days, in accordance with the procedure, the release states.

The Serbian Foreign Ministry appreciates the dedication of the Turkish investigators working on the case and hopes that the country's judicial authorities will take an equally professional approach, which would certainly strengthen the ties between the two countries, the statement reads.

Photo Tanjug, Z. Zestic (illustration)