Turk hackers avenge basketball riot

NICOSIA – Agence France-Presse

Turkish computer hackers targeted around 20 Greek Cyprus websites over the weekend, apparently in retaliation for an attack on a Turkish basketball team by Greek Cypriot fans, a police spokesman said Monday.

“Acting on information from the office for combating cyber-crime, it was observed that around 20 company websites hosted within the Cyprus Republic [Greek Cyprus] were illegally accessed by Turkish hackers,” said Michalis Katsounotos.

On some website homepages, the hackers inserted the emblem of basketball team Pınar Karşıyaka, the crescent moon of the Turkish flag, or the words “No Terrorism in Sport.“ A FIBA basketball cup match on Dec. 21 between hosts Apoel Nicosia and Turkey’s Pınar Karşıyaka ended in violence as 500 local rock-throwing fans clashed with police preventing them from confronting the Karsiyaka players.

Tear gas was used to disperse the crowd, while police cars ferrying reinforcements to the sports stadium were pelted with stones. Five officers received hospital treatment for minor cuts and wounds and three 15-year-old youths have been charged with assault, affray and illegal possession of dangerous weapons. Investigators are trying to identify more suspects from CCTV footage taken from the scene.

Katsounotos said no Karşıyaka team members were hurt, but a large police escort was used to shepherd the Turkish team back to their hotel and later to the divided island’s Larnaca international airport.

Turkey’s ambassador to Turkish Cyprus, Kaya Türkmen, lodged a protest with United Nations peacekeepers on the island and President Demetris Christofias, the Greek Cypriot leader, slammed those involved in the attack as “brainless.”

A FIBA tribunal fined Apoel 40,000 euros and ordered them to play their next European home matches behind closed doors.

The Turkish basketball players returned home to the Aegean province of İzmir via Greece, because Greek Cypriot officials rejected Pınar Karşıyaka’s requests for security protection during the night.

They argued such a step would be tantamount to recognizing Turkish Cyprus, which is only recognized by Turkey. Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been divided since 1974, when Turkey sent troops into the north after a rebellion by Greek Cypriots who wanted to unify with Greece.