Car Dealership Shooting Case: Burak Akdağ Remanded for One Day

Burak Akdağ, who was arrested on allegations that he incited 17-year-old suspect A.K. to carry out the armed attack on Uluhan Car Dealership in Nicosia, appeared before the court.

Presenting the facts of the case, police officer Emrah Turgal told the court that Akdağ had been arrested in connection with charges including attempted premeditated murder, causing grievous bodily harm, assault, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of explosives, discharging a firearm in a residential area, and malicious damage.

Police stated that on 6 January, at around 10.00, A.K. carried out an armed attack on Uluhan Car Dealership operating in the Küçük Kaymaklı area of Nicosia. The suspect reportedly fired five shots, injuring Hidayet Duran and Eyüp Bilgi, who were inside the dealership at the time. Duran was shot in the left ankle and hip, while Bilgi sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg. Several vehicles were also damaged during the incident.

Police said the suspect was located and arrested in Nicosia later the same day, with two handguns and 15 live rounds of ammunition found in his possession. The officer noted that A.K. gave an incriminating statement and that video footage belonging to Burak Akdağ was found on his mobile phone. In his statement, A.K. claimed that he had been incited by Akdağ.

Police further informed the court that Burak Akdağ was located and arrested in Famagusta on 7 January. Emphasising that the investigation is ongoing, police said there are statements still to be taken, CCTV footage and phone records to be examined, and certain claims made by Akdağ that require verification. On these grounds, police requested an additional one-day detention. Prosecutor Berhat Mavioğlu also stated that the investigation is being conducted on a wide scale and supported the request for extra time.

Akdağ’s lawyer did not object to the request but posed several questions to the police. The defence asked whether A.K. had come to the island for the first time, to which police replied in the affirmative. Asked whether there were any records of communication between A.K. and the defendant, police said examinations were ongoing. When asked what A.K. had said about the defendant, police responded that he claimed Akdağ had incited him.

The defence also questioned whether the defendant had any links to wanted individuals. Police said the individuals who supplied the weapon and the motorcycle are being sought, but that they could not, at this stage, confirm whether there was a connection to Akdağ. The defence argued that their client had previously exposed drug dealers, leading to the seizure of large quantities of drugs in Iskele and Famagusta, and that he had received threats as a result, claiming he was being framed. It was also argued that a hitman’s phone would contain photos of intended targets rather than the alleged instigator, and that A.K. had obtained images of Akdağ from the internet.

After evaluating the testimony presented, Judge Şevket Gazi ordered that the suspect be remanded in custody for one day.