Filenews 19 January 2026 - by Natasha Christoforou
The three consecutive murder attempts, as well as the arson of vehicles, in the space of just one month, had demonstrated since last summer – and even emphatically – that organized crime has taken a head in Larnaca for good.
It is since then that there has been turmoil in the city, with all the information converging that there is an ongoing effort by warring factions to take control of the gold-bearing "business" of providing protection to businesses.
It is the result of this criminal activity that innocent citizens almost paid for on Saturday afternoon in Larnaca, when shots were fired on its busiest street (Gr. Afxentiou Avenue) during a fierce clash with axes, crowbars and sticks.
And all this, which was also recorded on video, was recorded just 100 meters from the Larnaca Police Department. It is noted that for the criminal actions of the summer, at least 7 arrests were made that also touched the Central Prisons, however some cases remain... orphaned by instigators.
Group of 48-year-old
The questions that arise from the brazen action of organized crime are many and have multiplied after the horrific incident of last Saturday, which happened in broad daylight.
Behind it seems to be an organized crime group, with Cypriots and foreigners of Arab origin, for whom there is information that they are involved in threats and beatings. The Police have already arrested a 48-year-old man with Cypriot citizenship, who was found injured in the hospital, who is said to have a key role.The 48-year-old, who has been under 8-day detention since yesterday, is a person who has served many years in prison, while he was recently brought before a court for a criminal case for which he was released, on parole.
The 48-year-old's team allegedly approached the businessman of a premises on Alexander's Avenue two weeks ago. Grigoris Afxentiou and initially asked him for €7.000 for protection and then €1.000 per month. The first call was made by phone to the businessman, who is a Greek Cypriot, by a person of Arab origin who is wanted. Threats over the phone followed, according to the complaint, while on Saturday the person of Arab origin went to the scene around 2 pm and asked again for money from the complainant, whom he allegedly threatened with a knife.
Shortly after 3:00 in the afternoon, vehicles approached the area at high speed and 20 people disembarked from them, including the 48-year-old. These persons demanded money from the complainant and when he refused, they allegedly started beating him.
Then the complainant together with a relative and two of his friends reacted and counterattacked with an axe and crowbars. As it was submitted to the court, the complainants used "similar violence", in order to ensure their physical integrity and property. This was followed by the firing of two shots with a pistol held by a member of the 48-year-old's team. The unthinkable thing is that the shots fell outside the fast food restaurant, without, fortunately, anyone being injured.
€80 for each guard
The way the criminal group obtained the protection of nightclubs is also impressive, with the Police stating that they were informed about it on January 16, 2026. Specifically, information was received that the 48-year-old together with 15 people went to a nightclub in Larnaca on January 9 and informed the security guards that they were undertaking the protection of the premises, however, they refused.
The next day, the same group reportedly went to another nightclub and informed the guards that they were taking care of him. They allegedly accepted and so they began to be employed by the criminal group.
According to the data collected by the Police, the 48-year-old is allegedly paid by the owners of the nightclubs every night with the amount of €80 for each private security guard. €50 is the guard's fee and €30 is the fee for protection.
The beating in Pyla is in the frame
The Police, meanwhile, were going to re-arrest the 48-year-old yesterday for another incident involving the beating of a European citizen in Pyla, which took place a day before the Larnaca incident. The complainant was allegedly beaten by a number of people who demanded money for protection.
For the Larnaca case, meanwhile, three foreigners of Arab origin 35, 26 and 20 years old who are alleged to be members of the 48-year-old's team continue to be wanted. According to the spokesman of the Police, Byron Vyronos, the Larnaca TAE is in the process of identifying other persons.
Meanwhile, it is being investigated whether two persons of Palestinian origin, 28 and 29 years old, have any involvement in the incident, in whose house eight military cartridges of nine millimeters calibre were found. The two were arrested together with a 26-year-old man during the raid on an apartment in Larnaca, in which there was information that one of the wanted persons lived. The two suspects were remanded in custody for 4 days, while the third was released, since he was not related to the case and was randomly at home.
Emergency measures throughout the province
- Fytiris' intervention, Mayor's concern and the position of the President of the Republic
The Minister of Justice and Public Order, accompanied by the mayor of Larnaca, rushed to ADE Larnaca yesterday, for the second time in a few hours.
Mr. Fytiris announced emergency measures in Larnaca that will include, as he said, continuous patrols in critical areas. He also noted that the situation requires perseverance and patience, describing the effort as a "battle".
For his part, Mr. Vyras pointed out that such phenomena stigmatize the progress of the city and cause a sense of insecurity among citizens. He stressed that the cooperation of the Municipality with the Police is a given, clarifying, however, that the fight against organized crime does not fall within the competences of the Local Government. Mr. Vyras stressed the need for the entire state to take responsibility, asking for a specific action plan.
The police director of Larnaca, Ioannis Kapnoulas, indicated for his part that members of the force came voluntarily, off duty, to assist in the work of the Police, adding that the patrols are constantly on the streets.
The President of the Republic also intervened yesterday, describing the incidents in Larnaca as unacceptable. As he said, actions are progressing on the part of the Police to arrest those involved in these incidents. "In case of involvement of foreigners, they will be arrested and deported immediately from our country and placed on the stop list" so that they cannot return, he said. Regarding the possible involvement of Cypriots, the President said that he does not know details, while referring to the need for "exemplary punishment".
The need to take measures was also raised by political parties, focusing on the importance of restoring the sense of security of citizens.
