As more details surrounding the assassination of Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov emerge, the assassin's links to FETÖ have become increasingly apparent.
Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş, the gunman responsible for the assassination of Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, was an average student at Söke Cumhuriyet Anadolu High School. He was described as an antisocial student.
Altıntaş attended the FETÖ-linked Körfez Prep School upon high school graduation and had his education expenses paid by fugitive Şahin İlgi, a FETÖ-financing businessman. Altıntaş stayed at FETÖ-linked dorms.
He was not successful in the university entrance exam, and was thus prompted by his FETÖ-supporting uncle to sit the police entrance exam. Altıntaş's uncle, Hasan F., was a teacher who was taken into custody for his links to the terrorist organization.
Altıntaş's Uncle Hasan was a part of the senior administration of a school belonging to FETÖ. Hasan was taken into custody for his links to the terrorist organization, but was later released on the condition of constantly reporting to the police.
Between 2012-2014, Altıntaş studied at İzmir Rüştü Ünsal Police Academy, where he was an undercover FETÖ militant. Altıntaş was financially supported by FETÖ fugitive Şahin İlgi, who is a businessman found to have provided financial support to FETÖ.
Had the July 15 coup attempt succeeded, İlgi would have been appointed by the junta as Aydın Metropolitan Municipality Mayor. İlgi's father was arrested four days prior on charges linking him to FETÖ.
Altıntaş's university entrance exam and Police Academy exam were analyzed, and it was concluded that he must have had external support. An investigation has been launched as it was found that he illegally obtained answers.
Two senior police officers, whom Altıntaş listed as references during his entrance to the Police Academy, received dishonorable discharge for their links to FETÖ. Altıntaş's name was mentioned in an Istanbul based investigation into FETÖ members that had infiltrated the police force, where it was stated that Altıntaş was residing in a FETÖ house.
Proof has also surfaced showing that Altıntaş took two days annual leave before the July 15 coup attempt. Five months prior to the coup, he was temporarily stationed in Diyarbakir, where he submitted an annual leave form. Riot Police Department Commissioner Kahraman Sezer, who approved the annual leave request, was arrested recently for being a FETÖ terror organization member.
Altıntaş, who was in Ankara during the July 15 coup attempt, stayed at a shared house with three other police officers. The house has since been searched and closed down by police.
Following the assassination of the Russian ambassador, police went to search Altıntaş's home, where he resided with the homeowner, a lawyer, and another police officer. His police housemate was taken into custody. The home-owner was caught in Istanbul, and his bureau in Balgat, a suburb in Ankara, was shut down.
The local resident registry has no records of either Altıntaş or the lawyer homeowner, and in addition, no address records exist for Altıntaş.
Altıntaş prepared for the assassination in a hotel room within close distance to the Çankaya Council's Center for Contemporary Arts, where the Russian ambassador was shot dead. Altıntaş reserved a room in the hotel on December 14.
On the day of the assassination, Altıntaş left the hotel at 5:26 p.m. and went to the Center for Contemporary Arts, where he was allowed inside upon presenting his police badge.
It is yet unknown how Altıntaş knew that the Russian ambassador would attend the exhibition, raising questions about who notified the gunman.
Süleyman Ergen, the gunman's 'FETÖ brother' from the İzmir Rüştü Ünsal Police Academy, has been taken into custody. Altıntaş's father, mother, sister, uncle, police housemate and lawyer homeowner are all under investigation.
Upon raiding Altıntaş's family home, their computer and mobile phones were seized for investigation.
Security units have found that the assassin fired nine shots. In the autopsy of the Russian ambassador, it was concluded that 11 bullets entered and exited the body. The gun used by Altıntaş was a standard issue police gun.
The assailant responsible for the death of Russian ambassador Karlov was dead upon the arrival of police. Provocations on social media were widespread, with some claiming that Altıntaş was killed to keep him quiet. According to sources, the assailant was shot so that the ambassador could be taken to the hospital without delay. Upon shooting Karlov, Altıntaş waited near his body.
