Filenews 31 January 2026 - by Andreas Pogiatzis
A veil of mystery covers the case of the disappearance of 13,6 kilograms of TNT explosive material from the Kalo Chorio firing range in Larnaca, during a planned exercise that began earlier in the week.
According to information from Filenews, the investigation of the case is at the stage of taking statements from the Police, both from all the persons who were present at the scene, and, at a later stage, from senior executives of the specific unit of the Engineer. The process is characterized as time-consuming and is estimated to take several days.
The direction of the investigations is directed both towards the persons involved, i.e. the trainees who were at the scene and had the responsibility of storing the explosives, and towards the wider surrounding area of the firing range.
From the evidence of the case, suspicions arise that third parties, who did not participate in the exercise, may be involved. As we are in a position to know, before each exercise is carried out, all affected settlements in the area are notified, while the National Guard is also regulating traffic where and where required, for the safety of citizens.
It is suspected that people who knew the area, were aware of the conduct of the specific exercise and were aware of the procedures followed may be involved in the case.
According to the data of the case, the disappearance was confirmed after the trainees were removed from the scene. At the same time, in a more general context, it is known that after the completion of exercises in firing ranges, from time to time there is the presence of people approaching these areas to collect metal objects, an element that is taken into account in the context of the investigation.
The chronicle of the disappearance of ammunition
On Thursday 29/11, 13.6 kg of TNT explosive material was reported missing from the Kalo Chorio firing range in Larnaca, during a scheduled exercise, which started earlier in the week.
In charge of the explosive material, it was an Engineer's unit, which would carry out three controlled explosions at noon on Thursday around 14:00. According to the evidence of the case, the trainees placed quantities of explosives in three predetermined points (nests), in metal boxes, based on the protocol and scenario of the exercise. They then moved to a safety distance of several hundred meters and proceeded to detonate the explosives, through a special mechanism.
According to information from Filenews, the first and third outbreaks with the explosives exploded, while the second outbreak did not.
Subsequently, to examine the site of the explosion, the trainees performed a drone overflight, in order to see the center of the explosion and examine whether there was a quantity of explosives that did not explode.
As it turns out, the searches with the drone did not bring results and after the time required for safety reasons had elapsed, they approached the site of the explosion. There it was found that the explosives of the second point, which involved two 15-pound devices (13.6 kg in total), were not at the scene.
As stated by the Spokesman of the Ministry of Defense, Christos Pieris, the most likely scenario that is at the center of the investigations is the theft of the explosives from the scene.
At the moment, the area where the shooting range incident occurred remains cordoned off, while investigations are in full swing and are being carried out in all directions.
