Falyalı's 'black box' killed on a hotel terrace in the Netherlands... Eyewitnesses speak: Did the interview he gave lead to his end?

Cemil Önal, the accountant for Halil Falyalı, a key figure in the illegal betting and money laundering traffic in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, was killed as a result of an armed attack on the terrace of the hotel where he was staying in the Dutch city of Rijswijk.

The incident took place at the Hoevevoorde Hotel. According to information provided by the hotel manager, while Önal was sipping his drink at a table, a person with an uncovered face approached him, shot him from close range, and fled rapidly.

HE HAD FLED TO THE NETHERLANDS AFTER FALYALI'S DEATH

Cemil Önal, known as the "black box" of Halil Falyalı, who was assassinated in Kyrenia on February 8, 2022, was among the murder suspects following the death. He first fled to Turkey and then escaped to the Netherlands. Önal was arrested after appearing in court in the Netherlands on December 7, 2023.

HE BECAME A WHISTLEBLOWER AND WAS RELEASED

Cemil Önal, whose extradition to Turkey was expected, became a whistleblower by providing a total of 120 pages of testimony to Dutch and US intelligence units. Thanks to this cooperation, he was released on March 25, 2024. Following his release, he had been placed under police protection.

HE HAD GIVEN AN INTERVIEW TO A JOURNALIST

An interview Önal gave to journalist Ayşemdem Akın shortly before his murder had caused a stir. In the interview published in the Cyprus-based newspaper "Bugün Kıbrıs," Cemil Önal had claimed that despite Halil Falyalı's death, the criminal network remained active and that illegal betting and money traffic were continuing in the same way.

FALYALI'S CRIMINAL NETWORK IS STILL STANDING

In the interview, Önal had stated, "The structure established by Falyalı continues exactly as it is. Business is being conducted through other names. Drugs, gambling, betting... Only the stage has changed." These statements increased the question marks surrounding his murder.

EYEWITNESSES: IT WAS A STRAIGHT-UP EXECUTION

The Dutch police, who launched a large-scale search in the park surrounding the hotel where the attack took place, announced that no arrests have been made so far. One female eyewitness said of the attack, "It was a straight-up execution. The man came directly, pulled out his gun, and shot. There wasn't even an argument."

While the Dutch police refrained from giving details about the incident, it was reported that security camera footage is being examined and efforts to identify the attacker are ongoing.