Attempted armed attack on hotel: three suspects brought to court

Three suspects — A.K., Y.K., and Y.Ö. — appeared in court on January 20, 2026, in connection with an attempted armed attack on a hotel in Northern Cyprus, according to the Crime Prevention Department of the Girne Police Directorate.

An investigator from the Girne investigation department presented the circumstances of the case in court. According to him, the detainees agreed to carry out an armed attack on a business operating in İskele and formed a secret alliance to commit a serious crime.

A.K. and Y.K. were detained on January 16 in an apartment in Girne. During the search, a mask, gloves, and a substance suspected to be drugs were seized. The detainees admitted that they illegally crossed from the southern part of the island to the north and photographed the İskele facility, after which they sent the images to Dubai. Data on the locations of several car dealerships were found on their mobile phones.

Y.Ö. was arrested on January 17. Police noted that the investigation is ongoing: five more individuals are still wanted, phone contents are being checked, CCTV footage is being analyzed, and additional statements will be taken. The court approved the police request to extend the suspects’ detention for the requested period.