Police informs prosecutor one year after Berkin Elvan’s death

ISTANBUL

DHA Photo

The Istanbul Police Department has finally sent the identities of the policemen suspected of shooting dead Gezi protest victim Berkin Elvan, a full year after the 15-year-old passed away following 269 days in a coma.

Elvan was shot with a tear gas canister during a police crackdown on protesters on June 16, 2013, and succumbed to his injuries on March 11, 2014.

Despite nationwide protests demanding punishment for Elvan’s killers, the Istanbul police failed to inform the prosecutor for a year about the three suspected officers seen in security camera footage. It finally provided the identities and photographs of 21 policemen, Doğan News Agency reported March 18.

Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz recently forwarded the information to the National Criminal Bureau to evaluate if the three suspects were among the 21 policemen in the file, according to the report.

The investigation will continue according to the results of the forensic analysis requested by the prosecutor.