Cyprus Mail 8 June 2022 - by Gina Agapiou
A 79-year-old man died and two women were critically injured when a house in Pyrgos was set on fire while they were inside, police said on Wednesday.
According to Limassol CID chief Lefteris Kyriacou, the house was set on fire by the nephew of the 79-year-old victim, named as Michalakis Demetriou. The younger man was later found dead next to his car, about a kilometre away from the attack.
Kyriacou said the arson occurred at around noon when the 59-year-old nephew arrived at the house of his uncle in the area of Pyrgos in Limassol, then setting fire to the living room using petrol.
In the house were the perpetrator’s uncle, his 78-year-old wife and a 73-year-old neighbour.
Authorities were immediately called to the scene and fire fighters put out the fire.
The 79-year-old man was found lying unconscious outside the house with serious visible wounds.
The two women were still inside the house where they were found with serious burns. They were taken by ambulance to Limassol general hospital in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses saw the nephew leave the house holding a hunting rifle, media reported.
Villagers later found the 59-year-old man dead in an outdoor area next to his car, about a kilometre away from the house in Pyrgos.
He appeared to have a wound compatible with having been shot in the head, Kyriacou said.
Reports suggested the two relatives had personal differences and had clashed before the arson.
Police are at the scene for investigations.
