A 28-year-old Turkish national arrested over the fatal shooting of his 25-year-old compatriot in the Athens district of Exarchia was brought before the former Evelpidon court complex shortly after 9:30am, having been transferred from police detention at the Athens Police Headquarters (GADA).

The investigation by the Greek authorities has uncovered what they believe was a paid contract killing carried out as part of a violent feud between rival gangs linked to the Turkish mafia.

During questioning, the 28-year-old confessed to the killing, confirming that he had been recruited in Turkey specifically to carry out the assassination.

He told investigators he was paid 1 million Turkish lira—equivalent to approximately €18,000—to murder the 25-year-old victim, who was known to the Turkish authorities as a member of a rival criminal gang but had never come to the attention of the Hellenic Police.

According to investigators, the suspect entered Greece illegally via the Evros region before travelling to Thessaloniki and then on to Athens, following what police describe as a carefully organised plan.

Airbnb hideouts and a failed escape attempt

To cover his tracks, the suspect rented two separate apartments in Attica through the Airbnb short-term rental platform and had also made reservations for additional accommodation in the Greek capital.

Base of operations in Exarchia

The first apartment, located near the scene of the killing in Exarchia, served as his operational base. Immediately after the murder, he returned there, changed his clothes to alter his appearance and then disappeared.

Hideout in Kallithea

He then moved to a second apartment in Kallithea, where he remained in hiding for several days while attempting to find a way to flee Greece. Investigators say those efforts ultimately failed.

The operation that led to his arrest began after detectives from the Security Police analysed CCTV footage from the Exarchia area, allowing them to reconstruct his movements and positively identify him.