ayia napa — Police have arrested a fourth 18-year-old in connection with the assault of a 47-year-old Turkish Cypriot man in Ayia Napa. The suspect was apprehended at Larnaca airport shortly before 2pm, as confirmed by law enforcement officials. He is currently in custody and is expected to appear before Famagusta District Court in Paralimni on Monday for a remand order.
Earlier, Famagusta CID officers had taken three other 18-year-old tourists into custody after reviewing information and CCTV footage linked to the incident. These individuals, who hold Swedish passports and originate from Albania, Chile, and Iraq, were set to leave Cyprus on Sunday afternoon. A court has since remanded them in custody for eight days.
The violent altercation occurred early on Sunday morning around 5am when the victim was in the area with a friend. After separating, the 47-year-old reportedly began to argue with the group of tourists for reasons still under investigation. The situation escalated, leading to the assault that left him with severe injuries.
Police discovered the injured man on Agias Mavris Street at approximately 6am after receiving reports about the incident. Upon examination at Famagusta General Hospital, doctors diagnosed him with a brain haemorrhage and a fracture at the base of his skull. He was subsequently intubated and transferred to Nicosia General Hospital, where he remains in serious but stable condition.
Authorities have gathered testimony indicating that the victim was attacked by a group of unknown individuals, raising concerns about the nature of the assault. Tufan Erhurman, a prominent figure, has called for a thorough investigation, noting that the relevant authorities are in touch with the victim’s family following the incident.
Unal Ustel has also weighed in on the matter, stating that if the attack is found to stem from ethnic hatred or hostility towards Turkish Cypriot identity, it should be classified as a serious hate crime rather than a typical individual offence. This perspective has sparked discussions within the community, emphasising the need for a careful examination of the incident’s motives.
