Hrant Dink Killing Suspect Caught

After being interrogated he's brought to İstanbul for further questioning.

Security forces say the alleged weapon of crime is also confiscated on Samast.

Dink, a Turkish-Armenian writer and journalist was shot dead on broad daylight on Friday, January 19.

He was subjected to nationalist harrasement and prosecution for challenging the official approach to the Armenian genocide claims on Agos newspaper which he founded.

Prosecutors and Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler say that Samast confessed to killing Dink and declared that "he's not repentant".

Dink's secretary told investigators Ogun Samast had asked to meet Dink earlier on Friday, before the killing, Mr. Guler said.

After the request was turned down, the secretary saw the teenage suspect waiting on the street outside Dink's office, he added.

His own father identified the suspect

The prosecution released CCTV footage of the murder to the media and Samast's own father identified and notified the police of his identity and whereabouts.

He was taken under custody at the intercity bus station in the Black Sea port of Samsun.

Relatives say that Samast wasn't involved in any poltical movement while police questions seven people in his home town Trabzon. One of the suspects, Yasin Hayal, served prison sentence for a 2004 bombing of a McDonald's branch in Trabzon.

Hayal, a friend of Samast, is thought to sollicit the assasination. It's claimed that he is involved in a far right nationalist movement.

While the police says a direct organizational link isn't yet identified, lawyers remark that such crimes are forced to be committed by youngsters to avoid life sentencences.

Such was the case when a priest was killed by a 16 year-old also in Trabzon back in february 2006.

He was also motivated by nationalist sentiment, saying he killed Andrea Santaro for "his missionary activity".(EÜ)