Suicide bullet kills woman, injures male partner in famous Istanbul street

Suicide bullet kills woman, injures male partner in famous Istanbul street

ISTANBUL
Suicide bullet kills woman, injures male partner in famous Istanbul street

Turkish police cordoned off parts of İstiklal Avenue and an investigation has been launched.

A Turkish woman was killed and her male partner badly wounded with the same bullet in a suicide attempt in Istanbul's best known shopping street on Oct. 2.

The woman, Zeren Büke Toku, and her partner, Nazif Tuğrul Sağlam, sat on a pavement on the bustling İstiklal Avenue near the iconic Taksim Square, where several other young people were out late Friday, some drinking and others making music, Doğan News Agency reported. 


Suicide bullet kills woman, injures male partner in famous Istanbul street
Zeren Büke Toku

Toku then pulled out a gun from her bag, shot herself in the head with a single bullet, which exited her skull and hit her partner's. Toku died in hospital and Sağlam was hospitalized in critical condition as the gunshot blew away parts of his brain. 

Suicide bullet kills woman, injures male partner in famous Istanbul street
Nazif Tuğrul Sağlam

The suicide attempt caused panic on İstiklal Avenue, which is a colourful mix of high-street brands, bustling cafes and bazaars, AFP reported.

The motive behind the suicide was not immediately clear but witnesses told Doğan News Agency that they had been drinking beforehand.

Police cordoned off parts of İstiklal Avenue and an investigation has been launched.