Former Turkish Cypriot president attacked by nationalists in Greek Cyprus

Ömer Bilge NICOSIA / Hürriyet

Former Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat was attacked March 26 by a far-right nationalist group in Greek Cyprus as he attended a conference over the solution process on the island.

Hundreds of members of the National Popular Front (ELAM), a movement that promotes Greek nationalism and opposes Turkish Cypriots and immigration to the island, raided the conference room in Limassol while the speeches were continuing, throwing eggs, oranges and flammable materials at Talat. A mêlée erupted between the group and the audience before police dispersed the group.

Following the attack, Talat and his delegation crossed back to the Turkish Cypriot side under police protection, although the former Turkish Cypriot president said the police did not have the resources to repel the attack.

Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiadis reportedly called Talat to apologize for the attack.

A spokesperson from Greek Cyprus, Hristos Stilyanidis, also condemned the attack, saying they would not let such incidents happen again.

ELAM is known to be the Greek Cypriot wing of the neo-Nazi Greek organization Golden Dawn.