Three Arrested in 2016 Murder of Istanbul Dancer Aynur Kanbur

Istanbul police have arrested three suspects in the 2016 killing of 49‑year‑old Aynur Kanbur, a former member of the Mezdeke dance troupe. The investigation, which began after a gunman shot Kanbur in the entrance of her Şişli apartment, led authorities to Bülent Gündüz, a relative of the victim, and two other men. Gündüz confessed, stating he acted out of revenge because Kanbur had “done dance‑shows” and was mocked for years. He described approaching the door, being provoked, and firing multiple shots before fleeing, later discarding the weapon in the Bosphorus. The arrests were made after a special homicide unit reviewed thousands of metro‑bus camera recordings and cross‑checked passenger card data to identify the suspect.

The case, which remained unsolved for a decade, was reopened when investigators matched Gündüz’s travel records and linked him to the crime scene. All three detainees have been remanded to custody pending trial.