Iranian media tycoon shot dead in Istanbul

Saeed Karimian, an Iranian British and owner of Gem TV, was shot dead along with a Kuwaiti business partner in Istanbul, Turkish media reported on Sunday.

The pair were travelling in a luxury car in Istanbul's upscale Maslak neighborhood in the district of Sariyer on Saturday night, when a jeep blocked their path and two masked attackers got out and opened fire, the Hurriyet daily news said.

Karimian died on the scene, while his Kuwaiti partner succumbed to his injures later in hospital, Hurriyet said.

The assailants reportedly managed to flee the scene after the attack, and the vehicle used in the assassination was later found burnt out in the city's Kemerburgaz neighborhood, press reports said.

Police have launched an investigation by collecting footage from surveillance and security cameras near the scene, the reports added.

According to press reports, Karimian's satellite channels are broadcasting in Farsi, Azeri and Arabic. Gem TV has offices in London, Istanbul and Dubai. Endit