Journalist killed by gunman in Turkey

Journalist Hrant Dink, one of the most prominent voices of Turkey’s shrinking Armenian community, was murdered by a gunman yesterday at the entrance to his newspaper’s offices, police said.

Mr Dink, a 53-year-old Turkish citizen of Armenian descent, had gone on trial numerous times for speaking out about mass killings of Armenians by Turks at the beginning of the 20th century. He had received threats from nationalists, who viewed him as a traitor.

Mr Dink was a public figure in Turkey, and as editor of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian newspaper Agos, one of its most prominent Armenian voices.

In an earlier interview, Mr Dink had cried as he talked about some of his fellow countrymen’s hatred for him, saying he could not stay in a country where he was unwanted.

His friend, Mr Can Dundar, also a journalist, said he wished Mr Drink had left the country, as he once promised he would.

“Hrant’s body is lying on the ground as if those bullets were fired at Turkey,” Mr Dundar said.

Police said they were searching for the suspected murderer, believed to be a teenager, but the identity and motivation of the shooter were unknown.