Previously banned 'dangerous' online video game allegedly causes suicide of Turkish boy

A previously banned "dangerous" online video game may have been the reason behind the death of a 13-year-old boy in Istanbul, daily Habertürk reported on Aug. 4.

Hakan Ekinci was found dead on July 25 in front of his computer where he was playing an online video game called Metin 2 at his house in Istanbul's Esenler district. 

The boy committed suicide, according to initial forensic reports, but his family denies that he took his own life, saying that he was murdered.

The forensic report also stated that there were no marks on his body, but confirming that the cause of his death was suffocation. There was an elastic bandage around his neck when he was found dead in his room. 

The report will be sent to the Büyükçekmece Chief Prosecutor's Office after it is completed.

Police have started taking testimonies of the 13-year-old boy's friends as a part of the investigation as well as seized his computer to follow traces of causes that could have led to the death. Police is expecting to reach third parties or a gang that may have been involved in the reason that drove Ekinci to suicide. 

Ekinci's father said his son had plans for the future, denying claims that his son took his own life and saying that he was instead murdered. 

"He had one dream, and that was to become a doctor. We do not believe that he can harm himself or anyone else because of this game. We were aware that he was playing such a game," he said.

The boy's mother said there were some conflicting reports over the death of her son.

"There is no one entering or leaving the building. When his brother came home there was one chair in front of his computer but when his body was found there were two chairs in front of the computer,"...