Police in Limassol are investigating a violent incident near the Agios Georgios church in Ypsonas last night.
Limassol Police spokesperson Lefteris Kyriakou described the events as an “organised attack” on officers.
In statements to the media on Easter Sunday morning, Kyriakou said that shortly after 10 p.m. yesterday, Police received calls from citizens reporting that on the Ypsonas-Erimi road, there was a group of young people throwing stones, Molotov cocktails, and firecrackers at passing vehicles.
“Immediately, members of the Limassol Police Directorate’s anti-riot squad and the MMAD (Motorised Patrol Unit) went to the scene to restore order. Upon their arrival and while the officers were parking their vehicles, they were subjected to an organised attack by about 100 young people with covered faces who threw Molotov cocktails, firecrackers, and fireworks directly at the police cars and officers. Chemical means were partially used to disperse the rioters, and it was possible to remove them from the area, where it should be noted that there was a church, and people were gathering for the Resurrection service,” he said.
Kyriakou noted that Molotov cocktails and firecrackers set fire to one police vehicle, destroying it, while three other police vehicles were damaged.
Officers and investigators went to the scene to conduct on-site investigations and found that the fire in the police vehicle was started using a Molotov cocktail-type incendiary device, and the damage to the vehicles was caused by stones and other objects.
Asked if there was CCTV footage of the incident, he said that investigations are underway, and any available evidence in the area that could help identify the perpetrators is being sought. “It should be noted that some evidence, such as bottles containing flammable substances and other objects, has been located and will be sent for scientific examination,” he added.
Asked if the rioters were targeting drivers with the ultimate goal of ambushing the police, Kyriakou suggested that “from the facts and the evidence found, it appears that their target was for the police patrols to arrive at the scene so they could attack them. This behaviour has been observed in recent days in areas where there were bonfire materials, with young people gathering and increased delinquency, including the use of firecrackers and fires.”
He added that Limassol Police had intensified its measures, making over 30 arrests of young people who had gathered in these areas. “Many efforts have been made. The specific area where these young people were gathered, is an area controlled by the British Bases, but we responded immediately because there was a risk to people who were trying to go to church at that time and were being pelted with stones, Molotov cocktails, and firecrackers. This is a broader problem of youth delinquency that should concern us all and make us think about how we supervise our children.”
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