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A Turkish prosecutor was killed in a knife attack at a restaurant in Istanbul's Cekmekoy district Wednesday evening, prompting authorities to launch a comprehensive investigation into the fatal assault.
Ercan Kayhan, 58, a public prosecutor working at the Caglayan Courthouse in Istanbul, was fatally wounded when his throat was slashed at approximately 9:15 p.m. local time while dining at a restaurant in the Omerli neighborhood.
The suspect, identified as Mustafa Can Gul, approached Kayhan at his table before carrying out the knife attack. Authorities said the two men had a prior dispute, though details about the nature of their conflict were not immediately disclosed.
Police arrested Gul at the scene following the attack.
Emergency medical teams responded to the scene following reports of the attack but were unable to save Kayhan despite their efforts. The prosecutor died from his wounds at the restaurant.
The Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into the killing.
Istanbul's provincial government confirmed the arrest and announced a multi-faceted investigation into the prosecutor's death.
In a statement posted on social media, the Istanbul Governor's Office said Gul was apprehended at the scene and that authorities had launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
"We extend our condolences to our prosecutor's grieving family and loved ones, as well as to the entire judicial community. Our nation mourns this loss," the statement read.
The attack adds to security concerns for judicial officials in Türkiye, where prosecutors and judges have previously faced threats related to their professional duties.
Authorities have not released additional information about whether the killing was connected to Kayhan's work as a prosecutor or stemmed from the personal dispute between the two men.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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