Berlin Poker Robbery Suspects Would Surely Have Killed
Now that all four suspects in a daring daylight poker tournament have been rounded up, it is becoming ever so clear what these individuals were capable of. Each had extensive rap sheets despite ages that ranged from 19 to 22.
On March 6, the gun-toting, machete carrying blood thirsty monsters entered the EPT Berlin Poker Tournament at the downtown Grand Hyatt Hotel, making off with more than 200,000 euros. For whatever reason, the bandits decided not to brutalize any of the attendees.
One suspect, a 20-year-old man, presented himself to police after arriving from Istanbul before noon on Saturday. Eight hours later, the final suspect was arrested on the airport tarmac after the 19-year-old returned from Beirut, according to Bild am Sonntag's report.
There is now speculation that the four robbers did not plan the heist themselves. The newspaper reported that an Arab family known to police masterminded the crime. Family members were staying at the hotel. A rival criminal group allegedly provided police with tips on the robbers' identities.
One of the suspects, Jihad Chetwie (19), was already known to the police for robbery and bodily assault.
Mustafa Ucarkus (20) is considered a serious offender for brutal crimes and robbery. He was reportedly in prison until April 2009 for grievous bodily harm committed with two accomplices.
Some of the poker pros in attendance were Tweeting on their iPhones and Blackberries during the incident while hiding under tables, risking their lives in doing so perhaps.
Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
