Worker immolated in Istanbul’s third airport’s construction site for ‘disturbing colleague’s girlfriend’

ISTANBUL

A worker at the construction site of Istanbul’s third airport has pleaded guilty in the case of murdering his co-worker, reportedly saying that he immolated his colleague Mehmet Aytaç, a 36-year-old from the southeastern province of Diyarbakır, for “disturbing his girlfriend over the phone.”

The murder suspect, identified as M.A., surrendered to the gendarmerie in Istanbul’s Kemerburgaz district after he engaged in a brawl with Aytaç at the construction site.

Security footage at the construction site showed the suspect had gone to a gas station and bought a can of gasoline. He was later seen pouring the gasoline and igniting the room where Aytaç was sleeping.

Footage also showed the murder suspect escaping the scene after the room immediately caught fire, as he was also affected by the flames.

During his testimony, M.A. pleaded guilty and reportedly said he killed Aytaç for “disturbing his girlfriend over the phone.”

An Istanbul court later ordered the arrest of M.A. on charges of premeditated murder.