Suspect in Berlin poker heist surrenders to authorities, police search for 3 more suspects

Suspect in Berlin poker heist surrenders

BERLIN — A man who admits he took part in a brazen daylight raid on a poker tournament in Berlin surrendered to authorities and identified three accomplices, officials said Wednesday.

Authorities had been hunting since March 6 for four suspects who, armed with a revolver and a machete, stormed into the tournament at a downtown Berlin hotel and made off with €242,000 ($332,000) in jackpot money.

Images of the masked men were captured on surveillance cameras.

The 21-year-old German turned himself in on Monday. Officials declined to give further details about him.

During questioning, he admitted to his involvement and named his three accomplices, prosecutor Sjors Kamstra told reporters.

Arrest warrants were issued for the three. Their Berlin addresses were searched on Tuesday, but they weren’t there and “we assume they’re on the run,” investigator Stefan Teller said. Officials wouldn’t speculate on where they might be.

Authorities issued photos of the three — Ahmad el-Awayti, 20, of undetermined nationality; Jihad Chetwie, a 19-year-old German; and Mustafa Ucarkus, a 20-year-old Turkish citizen. They said they did not have further suspects.

All three already are known to German police in connection with previous suspected offenses, including robbery and bodily harm.

A few hours later, a man was arrested in central Berlin who may be a second suspect and told police he was being sought, spokesman Guido Busch said. However, his identity had to be checked.

Officials said the car the robbers used, a Mercedes, has now been found. The money, however, has not been recovered.

The man who turned himself in has told officials that “the money was divided up immediately after the crime,” said Frank Heller, a prosecutor.

He has indicated that he will pay back his share of the loot via his lawyer, but it is currently “with a third party,” Heller added, without elaborating.

The man told investigators that he took a look at the venue in advance, “took a look at where the money is, how the money is secured, are there guards, are the guards armed,” Heller said. “And when he saw that the guards didn’t have guns, they decided that they had a chance.”