Turkey: A letter from the Russian ambassador’s assassin

A letter written by the man who killed the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, has been found by investigators, Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor Harun Kodalak revealed

According to the letter, Russia’s brutal activities in the world led to the assassination in an art gallery on Monday.

Investigators consider the message an attempt to divert attention to other matters.

Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old off-duty Turkish policeman, shot Karlov in the gallery. In the message he noted that both Russia and the United States will end very soon. “You’ll not feel safe as long as we, Arabs, do not feel safe in our countries,” he added.

Police pointed out that, in addition to the letter, they found other books written by Arabic authors. They stressed that the books do not refer to any extremist ideas.

Investigators have been unable to unlock Altintas’ mobile phone and are said to be planning to send it to Russian experts if those in Turkey fail to access information contained on it.

Following the events, Altintas’ family were taken into custody by Turkish authorities and questioned.

Detentions have escalated to include the imam of the mosque of a Police School where Altinats had graduated in the city of Izmir, in addition to another four police officers.