Court Extends Detention of Suspects in Karpas Donkey Massacre

Four suspects appeared in court in Northern Cyprus in connection with the brutal killing of 16 donkeys in Karpas. Among them is a member of the Dipkarpaz municipal council.

The suspects were brought before the İskele District Court, which ruled to extend their detention for another two days as the investigation continues.

Key Developments in the Investigation

During the court hearing, it was revealed that police searched the homes of 14 registered hunting rifle owners on February 25 as part of the investigation. During these searches, officers found ammunition matching the type used in the donkey killings. This led to the arrest of Durmuş Durmuş and Umut Durmuş.

Additionally, two other individuals were detained:

• Turan Kalın, former chairman of the UBP Dipkarpaz organization, after police discovered that the barrel of his registered rifle was missing.
• Evren Dağ, a member of the Dipkarpaz municipal council, who failed to present his firearm to the authorities when requested.

Police have yet to recover part of the weapon used in the killings, and final conclusions will only be made once it is found. Investigators have also seized the suspects’ mobile phones as evidence, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Court Ruling and Objections

Lawyers for three of the suspects objected to the police request for an extended detention period. However, after a break, the court resumed its session at 1:30 PM and ruled to extend their custody for another two days, citing the need for further police investigation.

The Crime: What Happened?

The shocking incident took place on Sunday, February 16, about 500 meters northwest of the Dipkarpaz landfill, where a herd of stray donkeys was shot and killed. Initially, authorities reported 14 fatalities, but the latest count confirms 16 donkeys were slaughtered.

Among the victims was a pregnant donkey, who was tragically shot while giving birth.

After the discovery of the dead animals, police launched a large-scale investigation, which has been placed under the direct supervision of the head of Northern Cyprus. Earlier this week, four suspects were taken into custody.