Three 18-Year-Old Suspects With Swedish Passports Arrested Over Ayia Napa Attack

According to a statement by the Greek Cypriot police, the three suspects were arrested early Monday under court warrants as part of an investigation into charges of causing grievous bodily harm. They are expected to appear before the Famagusta District Court in Paralimni later today for detention hearings.

Greek Cypriot media reported that the suspects are Swedish passport holders of Albanian, Chilean and Iraqi origin.

The investigation, led by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Famagusta Police Directorate, identified the suspects after reviewing security camera footage and evaluating other evidence. Police said they are continuing to search for a fourth individual believed to be connected to the incident.

According to police sources, the 47-year-old Turkish Cypriot had been in the area with a friend before the attack. After the pair left at around 5 a.m., an argument broke out with the suspects for reasons that have not yet been determined. During the altercation, the victim was assaulted, fell to the ground and struck his head, sustaining serious injuries. Police believe, based on the evidence gathered so far, that the victim and the arrested suspects did not know each other.

The incident came to light after police received a report at around 6 a.m. on Sunday. Officers found the seriously injured Turkish Cypriot on Ayias Mavris Avenue in Ayia Napa.

The victim was initially taken to Famagusta General Hospital, where doctors determined that he had suffered a brain haemorrhage and a fracture at the base of his skull. Due to the severity of his condition, he was intubated and later transferred to Nicosia General Hospital. Doctors said his condition remains serious but stable.

Meanwhile, President Tufan Erhürman said information received through the bicommunal technical committee indicated that three foreign nationals had been arrested in connection with the attack and that one additional suspect remains at large. He added that the victim's condition and all aspects of the investigation are being closely monitored by the relevant authorities.