Famous Turkish author of self-help books killed in armed attack in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

Beki İkala Erikli, a famous Turkish author of self-help books, was killed in an armed attack in Istanbul by an unidentified female assailant on late Dec. 15, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Erikli, particularly well-known for her book “Living with Angels,” was killed at the entrance of her office’s building in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul at 8 p.m.

She was reportedly shot by an unidentified woman while entering the lift of the building.

Locals who heard gunshots rushed to the scene and called the police and medics, but she died at the scene despite all medical interventions. The assailant fled the scene on foot after the attack.

Police opened an investigation following the incident and examined surveillance cameras close to the scene. Erikli’s body was taken to morgue after an initial medical examination.

 One of the witnesses close to the scene, Taci İnan, said he did not hear any gunshots.

“She was lying on the ground when I arrived at the scene. I did not hear any gunshots. We called ambulances. She had an office that she named ‘fantasy world’ on the fourth floor of the building. I am in shock. I saw three bullet holes in her body. She was a very good person,” İnan said. 

Ayşe Aral, a columnist of daily Hürriyet, said Erikli was currently advising a schizophrenic who had directed a number of threats to her. Despite these threats, Erikli did not demand state protection, Aral added.

The latest post she shared on her social media account was going viral while news of her death was still emerging.

“Time is your most precious treasure. You cannot buy time. When your time runs out, you cannot even buy one minute,” the post said.