Filenews 3 February 2026 - by Andreas Pogiatzis
The investigations remain in the dark, to locate the mixture of explosives weighing 13,6 kg, which was stolen last Thursday 29.01, from the firing range of Kalo Chorio in Larnaca during an exercise of the 20th Engineer Company of the National Guard.
The investigations are moving in two phases, internally by the GEEF, in terms of the circumstances that led to the disappearance of the explosives during the exercise, but also on the part of the Police in order to identify the perpetrators and the explosives.
As we are in a position to know, the investigations within the Army were undertaken by an officer, Brigadier General in the rank, who conducts interrogations and receives testimonies from all those involved, in order to draw up a relevant report of events. The process is expected to take several days due to the involvement of several persons in the case.
From the evidence of the case, it seems to be concluded that the members of the National Guard who were at the scene are responsible for incomplete surveillance of the explosives and the firing range. Everyone in the National Guard and the Ministry of Defense is dissatisfied, while in his statements the Minister of Defense, Vassilis Palmas, clarified that responsibilities will be assigned where and where they are due.
According to the latest information that came into our possession, it is a mixture of explosives, which also includes TNT, as well as other incendiary components. As clarified, in order to activate the material and cause an explosion, the use of a detonator is required.
Regarding the Police investigations, according to information from Filenews, all possibilities remain open. The prevailing scenario considered by the investigators concerns the action of metal collectors, a practice that, as reported, is commonly observed in the firing ranges after the completion of each exercise of the National Guard.
With the aim of avoiding unpleasant and potentially dangerous incidents, similar to those recorded in the past and involving ammunition explosions in recycling plants, the Police proceeded to issue a relevant directive and immediately inform both metal traders and the specific factories. The purpose of this action is to draw attention in case the 13.6 kg of material ends up, through collection or transport, at their facilities.
The scenario that the explosives ended up in the hands of criminal elements remains in the frame of the investigators, with the investigations, as we mentioned in a previous report, extending outside Larnaca. The Police are silent regarding the progress of the investigations, while the evaluation of information and testimonies by the Larnaca Police Department continues.
