Police detain 5 as investigation into Serbian fan killing widens

The investigation follows a diplomatic crisis between Serbia and Turkey, in which Ankara promised to find those responsible for the murder of 25-year-old Red Star Belgrade fan Marko Ivkovic before his club's Euroleague basketball match with Galatasaray Liv Hospital.

Trouble flared up outside Abdi İpekçi Arena in İstanbul before the match when around 400 Red Star fans arrived but were not allowed to enter. In the ensuing clash Ivkovic was stabbed in the heart by an assailant who has not yet been identified.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu called Serbia's Prime Minister Vucic to express his regret over the killing of Ivkovic and pledged that Turkish authorities would do everything in their power to find the murderer.

Police detained five suspects after interviewing at least 300 possible witnesses. The suspects were taken to a police department in İstanbul's Gayrettepe district. The suspects acknowledged that they were in the area when the Serbian fan was stabbed, but they were not aware of who killed the fan.

Sources said police are looking for another four suspects who may be involved in the fatal stabbing of the Serbian fan.