Court arrests police officer dismissed over Gülen links in Russian envoy assassination

ANKARA

A court in Ankara on Dec. 14 ruled for the arrest of a former police officer who was dismissed from his post over alleged links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), as a part of an investigation into the murder of Russian Ambassador to Ankara Andrey Karlov last year, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Former police officer Ramazan Yücel was referred to court for arrest, accused of “participating in premeditated murder” following proceedings at police headquarters.

The Ankara 6th Criminal Court of Peace later ordered Yücel’s arrest on the charges.

Karlov was shot dead with nine bullets fired by riot police officer Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş late on Dec. 19, 2016, as he was delivering a speech for a photography exhibition at an arts center in Ankara. Altıntaş was later gunned down in an exchange of fire with security personnel at the scene.

A total of four people, including two police officers and Guru Media Broadcast Group Chairman Hayreddin Aydınbaş, were previously arrested in connection to the assassination.