Pafos Live 15 April 2025
A 35-year-old Greek Cypriot from Limassol who has been arrested on suspicion of yesterday's attempted murder in a pharmacy in Chloraka is being brought before the Paphos District Court today.
He faces charges of attempted murder, injury, and stabbing. According to the police, around 10.00 yesterday morning, while two women, aged 33 and 24, were working in a pharmacy, in Chloraka they were attacked by the 35-year-old suspect, resulting in injuries.
They were transferred to the Paphos General Hospital, where the 24-year-old employee, after receiving treatment, was discharged while the 33-year-old owner of the pharmacy, after undergoing surgery, was detained for hospitalization, with her health condition being serious but stable, according to the attending doctors.
The 35-year-old suspect voluntarily presented himself to the offices of the Paphos TAE where he was arrested and handed over the knife.
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The Greek Cypriot who interrupted the liturgy of Holy Monday last night at the church of Agia Paraskevi is not unknown to the authorities.
The 40-year-old, in whose possession a firecracker and a small amount of drugs were found and confiscated, has recently been released from prison after being found guilty of destroying the Christmas tree in Kennedy Square.
The coordinated checks of the Police that are carried out throughout Cyprus continue, for the prevention of juvenile delinquency, in view of the Easter holidays, according to a statement from the police.
In this context, during the night and at dawn today, members of the Police carried out 235 checks of premises and open spaces. Also, 125 persons were checked.
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A pistol and more than 350 firecrackers were found yesterday by the Police in a house in Nicosia. According to information, a person was arrested for the case to facilitate the investigations, while the weapon will be sent for ballistic and forensic examinations.
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Filenews
On Monday, two minors appeared before the Famagusta District Court, who were arrested by members of the Police in the early hours of Sunday, in an area of the Famagusta district, during the checks carried out by the Police, for the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
According to the Police, the case was registered on Monday morning for trial by the Famagusta District Court. It concerned the offences:
- Unlawful Gathering
- Tramps and delusions
- Worry
- Disturbance of peace
After the two minors admitted before the District Court the four charges they faced, the Court imposed a fine of €300 on each of them.
The Police continue daily the coordinated checks, which are carried out throughout Cyprus, to prevent juvenile delinquency, in view of the Easter holidays.
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The Police arrested a second person, as part of the ongoing investigations, regarding seven investigated cases of burglaries and thefts committed in the Famagusta district during February 2025.
It is a 21-year-old man, while a 17-year-old had already been arrested and detained for the same cases.
The seven burglaries were committed between February 7 and 26, 2025, in stores in Ayia Napa.
The TAE of Famagusta continues the exams.
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Cyprus Mail
Authorities have arrested 23 people in the run-up to Easter during a series of joint operations near Pyla village, police confirmed on Holy Tuesday.
The arrests followed six coordinated raids involving the British bases police, the United Nations, Cyprus police, and customs officers from both the republic of Cyprus and the bases.
The aim was to clamp down on illegal activity ahead of the Easter holidays.
Those detained face charges ranging from traffic violations and drug possession to carrying offensive weapons and smuggling tobacco across from the north.
The joint operations were launched following the success of a similar initiative last year, aimed at curbing the use of illegal fireworks, a recurring problem during Easter.
Inspector Fanos Christodoulou, who led the efforts, said the increased police presence has helped deter the spread of fireworks and also uncovered other crimes.
“Whilst the distribution of fireworks is not as common now, it is important that we have a very visible presence in some of the key areas, in particular in and around the crossing points, where they have historically been brought over from,” he said.
“Our presence has once again meant that we were able to make arrests for other offences, which is another extremely positive by-product of these operations.”
Despite the crackdown, some youths continue to light homemade pipe bombs on the streets, posing serious risks to public safety. Authorities say education is now key to tackling the issue long term.
“We have visited schools to explain how dangerous these fireworks can be and what consequences come with using them,” inspector Christodoulou added.
“We also agreed with local communities on safe bonfire areas, using only pure wood, with full access for emergency services.”
In Akrotiri, similar messages were shared. Last week, the neighbourhood policing unit visited Trachoni primary school to warn children about the dangers.
“Our message was clear; firecrackers are not toys. Safety always comes first,” acting chief inspector Tony Demetriou stated.
The multi-agency effort highlights how collaboration across Cyprus is proving essential in keeping Easter celebrations safe and under control.
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The court of appeals has dismissed an appeal filed by a man who was fined €1,350 for wearing a face mask below his chin during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The man was caught by the police walking up Nicosia’s central Stasikratous Street on December 29, 2020, with his mask below his face, and smoking a cigarette. He was eventually convicted of the crime in 2022.
He had appealed the ruling, saying the mask mandate of the day was issued “in excess of authority” and “devoid of legal effect”. He had also claimed the fine was “manifestly excessive”.
The court of appeal rejected his appeal on all grounds, saying, “the appellant assumes that since he was smoking at the time of the disputed complaint, it was reasonable for him to have his mask down below his face”, but that “his version of events about smoking was not accepted by the court of first instance”.
“With the rejection of the appellant’s version of events, the entire argument collapses,” he said.
It also sought to dispel any notions that there was a violation of the presumption of innocence, saying, “with all due respect, it lacks any basis”.
“The presumption of innocence is interrelated with the principle of the burden of proof. The observations of the court of first instance in this regard relate to its judgment on the credibility of the police,” it said.
