The shocking murder of Syrian engineer Omar Al-Azzi, also known as “Abu Khattab,” in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep continues to stir public outrage. 

Authorities discovered his dismembered body in a bag beneath the staircase of the building where he lived with his wife and daughter. As of Tuesday, no official findings from the investigation have been released.

A source close to the victim stated that the identity of the perpetrator cannot be confirmed until the Turkish authorities complete their investigation. While there are suspicions surrounding the wife due to conflicting statements, the source emphasized the need to await the results of the inquiry to avoid drawing premature conclusions, stressing, “Let’s not kill Omar twice.”

The source also urged people to refrain from blaming the victim’s family or friends, noting the horrifying nature of the crime. There were reports that the killer, or possibly multiple individuals, may have planned to destroy the body using a meat grinder to erase any evidence—underscoring the brutality of the act.

Mystery Deepens Around Omar Al-Azzi’s Final Days

A humanitarian worker based in Gaziantep described Al-Azzi as a kind, principled man who had opposed injustice and the Assad regime. He participated in protests in Homs during the early days of the Syrian revolution in 2011 and was reportedly detained in 2012 before fleeing to Turkey, where he studied mechanical engineering and graduated from a local university.

There had been rumors that Al-Azzi traveled to Homs shortly before his death, but his family was reportedly informed by border officials that no record existed of him crossing into Syria. It was also claimed that his family received a $50,000 ransom demand, and that his wife said both were held captive but she was allowed to leave the house for daily needs. However, none of these details have been officially verified.

A friend of the victim revealed that someone had been using Al-Azzi’s phone after his disappearance to send WhatsApp messages with phrases like, “Don’t ask about me, I’ll disappear for a few days,” or that he was entering Syria. The friend also mentioned that other acquaintances had received threats on their phones, allegedly for their involvement in revolutionary activities or humanitarian work. However, some believe these threats may be intended to confuse the investigation or create fear.

Inconsistencies and Evidence Raise Alarms

There were also indications of inconsistencies in the wife’s account—at times saying armed men held them both inside their home for two days, and at other times claiming they were confined in separate rooms. Surveillance footage reportedly showed her leaving the house during the period Al-Azzi was missing, which has raised further questions.

On Sunday, the wife had filed a report with the police, saying her husband had been missing for four days. She claimed that two unknown individuals broke into their home at 4 a.m. last Wednesday and detained them separately until Sunday, when they allegedly left the house. She said she had no information about what happened to her husband after that.

Following the report, crime scene investigators searched the apartment and found traces of blood in the bedroom. Eventually, Al-Azzi’s dismembered remains were found in a ventilation duct, stuffed in bags and covered with soil. Investigators also discovered a shopping bag containing a receipt for soil purchased the previous Saturday, and in the living room, they found a new meat grinder that had not yet been used.