Police continue investigations into attacks on Turkish Cypriots

By George Psyllides

Police on Tuesday continued their investigation into attacks against Turkish Cypriots by pupils who were out on the streets of Nicosia to protest the unilateral declaration of the breakaway state.

Reports said members of far right group ELAM were involved in at least three incidents, in which two Turkish Cypriots were injured and cars were damaged.

ELAM has denied any involvement.

Deputy police spokesperson Nikoletta Tyrimou said numerous people have been questioned and footage from security cameras were being examined in a bid to identify the perpetrators.

“Police are particularly sensitive about such cases and their investigation is taken very seriously,” Tyrimou said.

At the same time she denied Turkish Cypriot reports that police had been present during the incidents but failed to provide assistance.

“On the contrary, as soon as the cases were reported, the instructions were to investigate them immediately,” Tyrimou said. “The police categorically denies these reports.”

Tyrimou said none of the attacks took place in the presence of police officers.

Police said the incidents happened between 11am and 1pm. The first one took place on the junction known as the Milano traffic lights (Prodromou Street) in Engomi.

Pupils attacked a car with Turkish Cypriot plates but the driver escaped uninjured. He did not want to file a complaint and was escorted by police to the Ayios Dhometios crossing.The second incident took place nearby on Hytron Street, near the Nicosia district office.

A father and a son were attacked inside their car by a group of pupils throwing stones. The father was injured and the car was damaged police said.

The third case happened on Griva Dighenis Avenue. A Turkish Cypriot suffered injury to the eye following an attack by pupils.

According to Yeni Duzen, one of the Turkish Cypriots who reported the incident, said police were not very helpful.

Another said he was told by police not to come south between November 15 and 20.

Pupils were out again on Tuesday to mark the 1973 uprising of the Athens Polytechnic against the military junta that ruled Greece.