Filenews 3 May 2023
Nor did the results of the State Chemical Laboratory's analyses show the use of flammable material during the large fire at the Russian Cultural Center, which strengthens the view that it was a random incident.
The investigations of the Police are coming to an end and the team of investigators of the ICF Headquarters, which is investigating the causes of the fire, has in its hands the report of the Fire Service, the results of the Chemical Laboratory and the testimonies from persons who were at the Center. As reported to "F" by the police, there is no testimony or evidence to suggest that last Wednesday's fire was set maliciously. The Fire Brigade received ash from the fire site which was forwarded by the Police to the State Chemical Laboratory, which last Saturday gave its results.
The analyses did not show the use of flammable material to cause the fire, while the Fire Brigade in its conclusion, after stating that its focus was in a pile of flammable materials (paints, thinner, polystyrene, etc.), essentially excludes malicious action, but without attributing it to a specific cause. At the same time, the Police, from the investigations and statements they have received, do not have any testimony about the use of Molotov cocktails to cause the fire, while at the same time they have testimony that some people smoked near the area where the flames broke out.
With these data in its final report, the Police will rule out the malicious act and attribute the fire either to the throwing of a cigarette butt or to the outbreak of another event due to the renovation works that were being carried out at that time. What is certain is that it was not caused by a short circuit or any other electrical incident, because there was no electricity in that area. There was, however, a gas discharge from gas bottles, which gave a great boost to the fire. However, the officials of the Russian Cultural Centre and the Russian Embassy are constantly informed by the Police by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As we were told, three or four more statements remain to be taken, mainly from persons who worked at the Centre, in order to prepare a file with all the data, which will be handed over to the Chief of Police for his own observations.
It is noted that initially the Russian Cultural Centre had talked about a Molotov cocktail being thrown before the fire broke out and about the existence of a white van near the area in recent days. Indeed, from the information provided by Cyprus, there were clear positions in Russia about a terrorist act. However, when everything became clear from the investigations, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman avoided talking about malicious action and thanked the Cypriot authorities for the way they acted and investigated the causes of the fire.
