Chef Andrea Minguzzi's son dies in Istanbul: Mattia Ahmet passed away after being attacked at the market

Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi, 14, son of Italian chef Andrea Minguzzi and Turkish cellist Yasemin Akincilar, died on February 9, 2025 after being left in coma for over two weeks following an attack at the Kadikoy market on the Asian side of IstanbulThe young man had been stabbed five times by a 15-year-old during an altercation over trivial reasons.

La The tragedy occurred on January 24th, when Mattia was at the market with two friends to buy a sweatshirt and some skateboarding equipment., his great passion. Here, according to the reconstruction by the Turkish police, he had a brief exchange of words with another teenager, culminating in a fatal attack.

The boy, son of the chef of the French embassy in Istanbul and the Turkish musician Yasemin Akincilar, had dual citizenship and was in the first year of the Italian high school in Istanbul.

The attack of January 24th

According to the footage from the market's surveillance cameras, everything would have started from an exchange of words between Mattia and his attacker. "You are very handsome," the 15-year-old attacker reportedly said in an ironic tone. Mattia, politely, reportedly replied: "Excuse me, brother." The young man, evidently provoked, reportedly replied: "You and I are not brothers." After an initial verbal confrontation, the two were separated by market traders.

But the 15-year-old returned shortly after, grabbing a knife from a fruit stand and striking Mattia with five slashes, to the kidneys and lungs. To complete the attack, another 16-year-old teenager kicked the boy while he was already on the ground. A doctor present on the scene intervened immediately, performing cardiac massage until help arrived.

Mattia was rushed to Goztepe City Hospital and underwent a delicate surgical operation, but his condition immediately appeared desperate. He had been brain dead since February 7th, until his death was officially declared on February 9th.

The arrest of the attackers

Thanks to the images from the security cameras, theIstanbul police quickly identified and arrested the two attackers, aged 15 and 16, both with criminal records. The main responsible, questioned by the police, declared: «I didn't realize I stabbed him five times.».

The arrested were handed over to the Children's Department of the Istanbul General Directorate of Public Security, pending trial.

The family's grief and the community's condolences

«With great sadness, our dear son Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi left us today.» the family communicated yesterday, February 9th. The funeral will be held today, February 10 at the Atakoy 5 mosque. Kisim Omer Duruk, after the afternoon prayer, and on Tuesday 11th February a mass will be celebrated Memorial ceremony at St. Anthony's Church in Beyoglu.

The Italian Embassy in Türkiye expressed its condolences: «TheAmbassador Giorgio Marrapodi and the entire Embassy extend heartfelt condolences for the death of Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi. We express our full closeness to the family for the tragic passing».

Also to Misano Adriatico, the father's hometown, the community is in mourning. "You can't die like that, because of an argument. How could kids do something like that?» can be read among the numerous messages of condolence on social media.

Mattia lived in the Beyoglu district with his family and had recently started high school. His death has left a deep void in the Italian community of Istanbul and in his father's native country..