ISTANBUL 

Türkiye’s Communications Director Burhanettin Duran on Thursday condemned an attack carried out by the EOKA terrorist group against citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the buffer zone in Lefkosa.

In a statement posted on Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Duran said a group supporting the EOKA terrorist organization carried out a stone-throwing and explosive attack targeting civilians in the Yigitler Burcu area of the TRNC.

“This provocative act targeting civilians disregards not only peace in the region, but also international law and humanitarian values,” he said.

Duran stressed that identifying those responsible and bringing them to justice, along with taking concrete measures to prevent similar incidents, are essential for maintaining peace on the island.

He also underlined that Türkiye will closely monitor all aspects of the process, reaffirming Ankara’s full support for the security, peace, and rights of the TRNC under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Greek Cypriot groups gathered in southern Lefkosa to mark the April 1 founding anniversary of EOKA and threw stones, sticks, and improvised explosives at civilians sitting in a park located within TRNC territory, according to authorities.

The attack took place around noon, with civilians in the area coming under assault from across the buffer zone.

Turkish soldiers deployed nearby responded to the incident, while TRNC police moved in to secure the area. Following the intervention, the attackers, including some masked individuals, retreated from the borderline and fled.

In the aftermath, the TRNC Presidency initiated demarches with the UN and the Greek Cypriot Administration. TRNC President Tufan Erhurman also condemned the attack.

EOKA was founded in the mid-1950s by Greek Cypriot-origin Greek officer Georgios Grivas, aiming to end Cyprus’s status as a “British crown colony” and unite the island with Greece through armed operations.

Following the end of British rule and the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, the group carried out attacks targeting Turkish Cypriots and also killed Greek Cypriots who opposed its ideology.