Car dealership set on fire in northern Nicosia: owner says €400,000 was demanded
A used-car dealership, Tol Cars, was set on fire in northern Nicosia, Cyprus. Its owner, Tolga Yeşil, claims that before the fire he repeatedly received threats and a demand to pay €400,000. Two men aged 19 and 20 were detained in connection with the attack.
Threats against the dealership owner
As Cyprus Mail reports, Yeşil told Turkish Cypriot media that he received threatening calls and messages six or seven times before the arson attack. According to him, unidentified individuals warned that if he did not pay €400,000, they would launch a campaign against him and his business on social media.
The entrepreneur said that posts targeting his reputation and company subsequently began appearing on social media. He also mentioned messages from numbers with the German +49 code containing the phrase, “uncle sends you his regards.”
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Arson attack and detentions
Yeşil said that he had contacted the police over the threats and gave a statement. About a month before the fire, he said, he received another threatening call and handed his mobile phone over to the police for examination.
The arson attack occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in the Trachonas area in the northern part of Nicosia. According to Turkish Cypriot police, a vehicle inside the dealership premises was doused with a flammable substance and set on fire. One car was destroyed, while another was damaged as the fire spread. Two men were tracked down and detained at Tymbou (Ercan) Airport.
