Eight Suspects Remain in Custody Over Shooting at Car Gallery in Nicosia

Police Corporal Kemal Erdelhun testified that on 8 November 2025, at around 02:40 a.m., Altıok and Naifoğlu fired two rounds from a Maraton 9 mm pistol at the office section of Sami Doğan Motors, located on Ali Hoca Street, causing damage to the office walls and aluminum fittings. During the investigation, two 9 mm shell casings and one 9 mm bullet were recovered from the scene as evidence.

Erdelhun added that on the same day, the weapon, a bullet lodged in the pistol barrel, and the clothes worn by the suspects were found approximately 500 meters northeast in a streambed and seized as evidence. The suspects were arrested the same day and admitted to the crime, stating they had obtained the firearm from Eren Akdemir.

Akdemir was arrested under a warrant the same day. Police found a Maraton 9 mm pistol with seven rounds in the magazine and 86 additional rounds in a package on the roof of his apartment building at Şht. Hüseyin Paşa Street, Lefkoşa, which were seized. Akdemir voluntarily confessed and stated he had received the weapon from Hasan Çiftçi.

Çiftçi, who had been abroad, was arrested at Famagusta Port on 16 November. He admitted in his statement that on 19 October he smuggled two firearms and ammunition into the country by hiding them under a truck driver’s seat and gave them to Akdemir on 20 October. Çiftçi also admitted to hiding a wanted person in a truck and taking them abroad on 30 October.

Police further stated that Rahman Eren Demir, Muhammet Mustafa Balta, and Halil İbrahim Börtçe were also arrested for their involvement. These suspects were aware of the crime but failed to report it, thus committing the offense of covering up a crime.

Police noted that Demir had been at large for 85 days, while Akdemir had been on the run for 195 days. Halil İbrahim Kökmen, a student, had previously been granted bail on 8 March 2022 for assault and illegal knife possession charges in Kyrenia, but his case could not proceed due to his absence.

Altıok, Naifoğlu, Balta, and Çiftçi were in the country on tourist status. Blood samples from the suspects have been sent to Turkey for DNA analysis, while ballistic tests on the weapons are still pending, and phone investigations are ongoing.

Highlighting the seriousness of the incident, which contributes to growing public concern over recent crimes, the police requested that the suspects remain in custody.

Presiding Judge Şevket Gazi ordered the suspects to be held in prison for up to three months while investigations continue.