Four More Days Kyrenia Plot Suspects

Police officer Çağın Akkara testified in court that the suspects were arrested on November 27, 2024, for "Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives" and "Conspiracy to Commit a Crime." Akkara stated that police acted on a tip-off about a firearm hidden in a flower pot outside a café on Atatürk Avenue in Kyrenia. Upon investigation, authorities found a 9mm handgun with an attached magazine containing nine live rounds.

Surveillance footage revealed that Mehmet Can Sarı had placed the weapon at the scene. A subsequent search of Sarı's hotel room uncovered another firearm, two magazines, and 20 live rounds of 7.65mm ammunition.

Police also found a mobile phone on Sarı, which included messages instructing him to collect a Beretta handgun from a vehicle with license plate SU 607. The vehicle's registered owner, Ufuk Yakın, was arrested on November 28. Yakın claimed he had lent the car to Salahi Dereci on the day of the incident.

Dereci, in his statement, said he had borrowed the car to visit Kyrenia with a friend. However, the investigation suggested the three suspects had conspired to attack the businessman. Police claim Sarı traveled to Northern Cyprus specifically for this purpose, while Yakın and Dereci supplied the weapons.

The court had previously granted a three-day detention order. During this time, the firearms and ammunition were sent for ballistic analysis. Police are awaiting the results of fingerprint and ballistic examinations and plan to review additional CCTV footage and witness statements.

Judge Evren Mürsel extended the suspects' detention for four more days to allow the investigation to proceed.