Turkish hitman charged in Athens for €18,000 contract murder in Exarchia

The murder

On the night of June 13, 2026, a 25-year-old Turkish man was shot dead at the intersection of Kallidromiou and Emmanouil Benaki streets in the central Athens neighbourhood of Exarchia. Witnesses said a man dressed in black ambushed the victim from behind while he was descending stairs with his dog, firing at least five shots, two of which struck his head. Greek police later identified the victim as a member of a Turkish gang, known to authorities in Turkey but with no prior record in Greece.

A professional hit

The 28-year-old suspect told investigators he was recruited in Istanbul by a criminal organization, possibly the "Daltons" gang, specifically to execute the 25-year-old. The reward was set at 1 million Turkish lira (18,000 euros), to be paid upon his return to Turkey. He had attempted the murder once before without success, then carried it out with a 9mm pistol.

The escape

To evade capture, the perpetrator rented at least six short-term rental properties, including one in Exarchia where he changed clothes and discarded the weapon immediately after the shooting, and another in the suburb of Kallithea where he hid for days while trying to flee. He carried a stolen Swedish passport and a credit card from Singapore.

Arrest and charges

Security camera footage allowed police to trace his movements. He was arrested on the morning of June 29, 2026, hours before he planned to leave for Turkey. Today, the Athens First Instance Prosecutor’s Office charged him with premeditated murder in a calm mental state, aggravated weapons possession, procurement and possession of drugs for personal use, and violation of immigration law. He was referred to an investigating judge and is expected to request a deadline to review the case file.