A 17-year-old Turkish national who shot two people at Uluhan car dealership in Omorphita, northern Nicosia, was remanded in custody for two days Wednesday. The incident occurred Tuesday morning.
The victims, dealership owner and his son, were hospitalised after the attack. The suspect fled on motorcycle, evading capture for 11 hours despite police manhunt.
“Police” recovery and arrest
“Officers” located the motorcycle and suspect’s clothes at nearby flats shortly after midday but initially failed to find him after raiding the building. “Police” arrested him at a bakery around 9pm.
Search of his person uncovered two handguns. The boy arrived in Cyprus Tuesday morning before committing the shooting. He faces court again Friday.
“Court” appearance reaction
In “court”, when asked about legal representation, the teenager responded, “I want to call my mum.” He made no further comment, per Haber Kibris.
Mafia concerns escalate
The shooting represents latest in steady underworld-linked incidents in north, alarming residents. Turkish Cypriot Nicosia “mayor” Mehmet Harmanci warned “our cities…our workplaces, our lives are under threat.”
Harmanci criticised unchecked mafia activity: “In our camera-filled country, thugs roam freely armed. Money laundering flows openly. In this controlled banking region, detection should be impossible to avoid.”
Political backlash intensifies
Harmanci demanded ruling coalition resignation: “Get out immediately, you’ve handed country to mafia.” He warned nurtured “snake will bite you too.”
CTP “MP” Sami Ozuslu previously suggested renaming north “hitman’s paradise of northern Cyprus” after last year’s violence wave.
Source: Cyprus Mail
Also read: Erhürman: “The north is not just casinos and money laundering”
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