Driver without licence runs policeman over in north Cyprus

A man who hit a traffic police officer in Kyrenia, north Cyprus and injured him, was arrested and taken to court on Wednesday. 

The incident happened at around 11.45pm on Tuesday evening during routine traffic checks in Kyrenia, when the man named only as ZZ, 21, a Turkish national was flagged down for a routine stop.

To avoid the punishment he would receive, he put his vehicle on reverse back while attempting to evade a traffic stop and ran over a police man.

Police said he dragged the officer with his car on the front hood for about 15 meters, causing the police officer to be thrown from the vehicle into the road.

He was arrested and taken to court on Wednesday on charges of "attempted murder, obstructing a police officer from duty and serious assault".

He was later tracked down and arrested, where police determined that he was driving without a licence. 

Police say he “deliberately” drove the car into the police officer who flagged him down.

The police officer who was seriously injured was taken to Kyrenia’s Dr Akcicek hospital and discharged shortly after.

The man was detained for two days on court order.

The investigation into the matter is ongoing.