Authorities investigate reports of objects thrown into northern Nicosia

Cypriot authorities are currently investigating an incident reported on April 1, 2026, involving allegations that a masked individual threw stones and firecrackers from the free areas of Nicosia toward the northern, Turkish-occupied part of the city near the Paphos Gate. Tufan Erhurman, a Turkish Cypriot politician, publicly claimed that a group of people committed the act around 13:30, labeling it an attack, though he confirmed no injuries occurred. The Cyprus Police, represented by government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis and Justice Minister Costas Fytiris, stated that investigations are ongoing and that no definitive results have been established yet. The government has officially requested evidence from the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) to substantiate these claims. While Turkish media outlets have circulated video footage of the incident and linked it to the EOKA anniversary, Cypriot officials suggest that such reports may be exaggerated for political pressure. The Minister of Justice emphasized that thousands of vehicles transit between these areas daily without incident and warned against attempts to inflate minor disputes. Authorities are reviewing security camera footage from the Markou Drakou street area to identify potential suspects.