Filenews 4 May 2021 - by Despina Psyllaou
Deafening explosions, noise and smoke drowned the neighbourhoods of Cyprus in view of the celebration of Easter, turning into a scourge the nuisance that has been established to be associated with the holy days of Christianity. It has been found that neither the outbreak of the pandemic nor the strict measures have prevented youths from creating a disturbance and nuisance.
More than 700 cases citizens have contacted the authorities, as they have lost sleep due to noise pollution and their concern that their homes, vehicles and property are at risk. In at least 400 cases, police were contacted regarding fires being caused, and more than 2,000 firecrackers were seized in the last days of Holy Week.
The problems and indignation of the citizens, have been reported to F by the press office of the Police. As has been clarified, people are calling the authorities to report the nuisance, the fire, the throwing of firecrackers. However, it was reported that these are a series of offences, as the throwing of firecrackers involves the transport, possession and use of explosives. The lighting of a fire takes place without permission, while at the same time the measures to deal with the pandemic are violated, as there is aggregation and movement during the containment hours.
In particular, the authorities responded to more than 700 incidents involving nuisance, throwing of firecrackers, lighting of bonfires and other offences related to juvenile delinquency. In the last days of Holy Week, more than 2,000 firecrackers were detected and seized, while since the beginning of the year more than 52,000 firecrackers and 7,000 fireworks have been seized. In addition, the Police Department responded to more than 400 calls involving fires.
However, due to the curfew under the provisions of the Infectious Diseases Act, the Police, in cooperation with municipalities and communities, carried out checks to avoid the custom of the bonfires, where they removed timber, tyres, furniture and other objects intended to be used for this purpose.
At the same time, it was reported that members of the Police were attacked as firecrackers and molotovs were thrown at them, resulting in a police vehicle being completely destroyed and causing extensive damage to a second. In another incident, two people aged 17 and 18, wearing hoods, threw firecrackers and burned a rubbish bin in Limassol province. When police arrived at the scene, the 18-year-old and a vehicle driver turned off their headlights and tried to flee. Eventually, a police officer approached the vehicle and then the 18-year-old violently opened his door, causing him to be hit in the left hand. The two youths have been arrested.
