A MAN who was found dead in woodland has been named as radio DJ Koray Alpergin, the owner of London station Bizim FM.
Cops confirmed a body had been found near Loughton, Essex, on Saturday after reports a man and a woman were missing.
Three men were arrested in the Kent area on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody.
Mr Alpergin, 43, was named by respected Turkish newspaper Hurriyet.
The victim’s pal, Altan Akturk, wrote on social media: “My dear friends from London on my page; My friend and colleague dear Koray and his girlfriend, who are well known to the public in London, have unfortunately been missing since Thursday.”
Tributes to the popular DJ have flooded in.
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Ismail Karakas, from Turkish Press, described Mr Alpergin as “London’s beloved Radio DJ” and said: “London Turkish Society mourns! We express our condolences to Tuncay Beykozlu, the bereaved father of Koray, and his loved ones.
“As Turkish Press Newspaper, we wish God to have mercy on the late DJ Koray who left us at a young age. Our condolences to his family and loved ones.”
The Turkish Police Association has urged the community to come forward with any information.
It added in a Twitter statement that it was supporting the Met Police’s Central Specialist Crime unit in the investigation.
Officers were scrambled to a home in Enfield, North London, on Friday following reports the pair were missing.
The woman has been located and is physically unharmed, police said.
Officers are now probing whether the pair were taken in a vehicle against their will on Thursday night.
Essex Police previously confirmed the man’s death is being treated as suspicious with the Met Police now taking over the investigation.
A post mortem will be carried out in due course to establish a cause of death.
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Kieran, Specialist Crime, said: “I would like to first offer our most sincere condolences to the family of the man who has died. My team and I are working 24/7 to establish exactly what has happened.
“This is a very complex and fast-moving investigation involving multiple units across the MPS, as well as invaluable support from our colleagues in Essex Police.
“While the investigation remains at an early stage, a key line of enquiry is that the man and woman were taken against their will in a vehicle on Thursday night.
“A police presence will remain in the Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate area for the coming days as we work to complete further enquiries. We offer our apologies to anyone inconvenienced by the disruption of road closures.
“I can assure residents in Enfield and Essex that we are doing absolutely everything we can to understand the chain of events here, and bring to justice those responsible.”
Anyone who was in the Ebony Crescent area on Thursday night and saw something suspicious has been asked to call police immediately.
The Met is also urging anyone with doorbell or dashcam footage to call 101 using reference CAD 3901/14 Oct.
