Seven more arrests made for Limassol violence
Police on Tuesday announced seven new arrests in connection with the clashes that erupted in Limassol’s Ayia Fyla on Friday night.
Late on Tuesday afternoon, police announced the arrest of a minor.
Evidence emerged against him during the investigation, leading to a court-issued arrest warrant. The minor was questioned, charged in writing, and later released.
That followed the earlier announcement of six arrest, five minors and a 19-year-old.
Four of the individuals were charged in writing and subsequently released, while the remaining two were released without charge pending further investigation.
In total, 20 people have now been arrested concerning the unrest, and the police’s investigation remains ongoing. Limassol CID continues its inquiries.
The clashes took place when groups of teenagers gathered to mark 100 days before their conscription into the National Guard.
The gathering escalated into violence, with individuals causing public disturbances, setting fires, vandalising property, and throwing rocks at police officers.
However, news outlet Alpha reported that the parents of eight of those initially arrested claimed their children had no involvement in the trouble. One mother stated her son was merely in the area to buy something from a nearby kiosk.
Police spokeswoman Kyriaki Lambrianidou said the incidents primarily took place near a bakery in the area. She noted that a small number of officers initially responded to the scene but were soon “attacked with rocks.”
President Nikos Christodoulides condemned the violence on Saturday, describing the incidents as “completely unacceptable.” Meanwhile, Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis praised the police response, calling it “immediate and effective.”
“Thanks to the swift police response, the situation was contained, and worse consequences were avoided,” he added.