“I lost $50,000 at the casino, I don’t remember what happened”: Drunk tourist who assaulted police in north Cyprus expresses regret

The Turkish tourist who assaulted police and airport staff at Ercan Airport in north Cyprus last week has claimed he acted out of despair after losing $50,000 at a casino.

The suspect, identified as Emre Çamlar, appeared in court again on Friday, admitting he was drunk and saying he could not remember the events.

Police reminded the court of the details of the incident, which took place on 21 August 2025. Çamlar, who had 71 milligrams of alcohol in his system, allegedly refused to hand over the keys of a rental car registered in his friend’s name. When questioned by an officer, he reportedly grabbed him by the throat, assaulted a security guard, and shoved a passenger services employee, all while shouting: “I am a veteran’s son. My father saved this place. Nobody can take me off the plane.”

Investigations revealed that before the incident, Çamlar had driven the rental car—despite not being listed on the contract—while intoxicated. Security footage showed him crashing into two parking barriers at the airport before abandoning the damaged vehicle without notifying the rental company. Police reported that the rental car sustained damages amounting to 35,000 TL, while the airport parking barriers suffered an additional $1,650 USD in losses.

In his statement, Çamlar admitted that he had been in Girne before heading to Ercan Airport, where he spent the night gambling and lost $50,000. He told the court that his frustration led him to drink heavily, adding: “I regret what happened. I lost all my money, and I don’t have the means to pay for these damages.”

Police requested three more days to complete their investigation, including gathering additional witness statements and finalising the damage reports.

The judge accepted the request and ordered that Çamlar remain in custody for three more days.