Pafos Live 26 March 2026
A high-value vehicle was completely destroyed by fire. The vehicle belongs to a foreign resident of Cyprus residing in Paphos.
The vehicle was parked on the Konia-Armou road
From the examinations carried out at the scene, this morning, it was found that the fire was set maliciously.
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Filenews
The 36-year-old man from Cameroon, who yesterday afternoon broke into the home of two women and threatened to kill them with a knife, was remanded in custody by the Larnaca District Court. After negotiations that lasted more than two hours, the incident ended successfully as the Police negotiators managed to free the two women, who is also from Cameroon.
The 36-year-old faces offenses related to abduction/abduction of persons for the purpose of restraining them, abduction/kidnapping with the intention of causing actual bodily harm, threat of violence, assault causing actual bodily harm, exercise of psychological violence, carrying a knife and illegal entry. According to information from Filenews, from the data collected so far by the TAE Larnaca, the 36-year-old had met his two compatriots a few months ago and yesterday he rushed in an erratic state to their house on Cooperative Street, located near the center of Larnaca. At some point, as the two women shouted, he grabbed a knife from the house and started shouting and threatening them.
There was a commotion in the area, as the voices of the foreigner could be heard throughout the neighbourhood. The Police were notified around 3:30 yesterday afternoon and put on red alert. First members of ADE Larnaca arrived on the scene and blocked the area, while negotiators from Nicosia were recruited, as well as members of the Special Anti-Terrorist Platoon, who hid in the area waiting for instructions. The perpetrator continued to shout and threaten the women, while at some point he put the knife to the neck of the one who fell to the ground. An officer of the Larnaca Police Department persuaded the perpetrator to release one woman, while the other was then rescued. The 36-year-old was immobilized and arrested, as he continued to be in a furious state. The two women were transported with minor injuries and in a state of shock to the Larnaca Hospital, where after receiving first aid they were discharged.
It is noted that after the end of the incident, the neighbours began to applaud the members of the Police who contributed to the rescue of the two women, who live and work legally in Cyprus. The foreigner, according to police sources, has so far not mentioned why he threatened the two women. He said, however, that he is homeless and that he used to work at El. Famagusta. At first glance, it seems to be legally located in Cyprus.
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The presence and action of the Police last night was intense, throughout Cyprus, with organized patrols in key points of urban areas, with the aim of preventing serious criminal acts, ensuring public order and increasing the sense of security of the public.
As part of these operations, members of the Police identified and arrested a total of nine persons for various offenses including attempted destruction of property with explosives and driving under the influence of alcohol.
During the night, 639 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 983 persons on board were checked. At the same time, 23 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency, from which a complaint emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 315 complaints were made for various traffic violations, three of which concern driving under the influence of alcohol. A total of 90 alcohol tests were carried out. Also, as part of the police examinations, nine vehicles were detained.
Coordinated policing operations, for the prevention and suppression of crime, continue daily, with an increased/enhanced police presence, targeted controls and immediate operational action, with the aim of increasing the sense of security of citizens/protecting citizens and ensuring public order.
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Developments are taking place in the case of an explosion in a fast food restaurant in Limassol, owned by a well-known Russian businessman, as the Police made two arrests.
Specifically, two men aged 19 and 21 were arrested on Wednesday night, who were taken into custody for the purpose of facilitating investigations. The two suspects are expected to be brought before the Limassol District Court today for a request for their detention.
It is recalled that the explosion occurred in the early hours of Tuesday (24/3) in a fast food restaurant in the area of the old Port in Limassol, causing damage to the area. The examinations revealed that the perpetrators were two persons who approached the place on foot and placed the explosive object. This is another criminal act in a series of criminal acts against the 40-year-old Russian businessman, who seems to be targeted for the third time in a few months.
The assessments converge on the fact that the persons behind these actions seek to exert pressure on the entrepreneur, in relation to issues allegedly related to the provision of "protection".
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A 36-year-old person was handcuffed by the Police in the case of the theft of busts in Germasogeia. A bust was found in his possession, which was received as evidence.
It is recalled that the theft of the busts of the heroes in Germasogeia took place in the early hours of last Saturday.
The Deputy Mayor of Germasogeia, in his post, spoke of an act that directly affects the historical memory and cultural identity of the place.
Update - The 36-year-old from Romania was detained for a period of five days, in connection with the theft of the busts removed from the Heroes' Monument in Germasogeia, between the dates of March 19 and 21.
The suspect appeared before a Court today, which approved the request of the Police and ordered his detention for a period of five days.
Following the complaint made to the Police by the Deputy Mayor of Germasogeia on March 21 after investigations and examinations, on March 25 information was received at the Limassol OPE that a foreign person was in possession of one of the relief busts and was trying to sell it to a specific person, in the area of Germasogeia.
Members of the Police immediately went to the scene, where they located the suspect in possession of one of the stolen busts. During his arrest, he said that "I found her yesterday".
The suspect then pointed out to the members of the Police the place where, as he claimed, he located her. Subsequently, a search was carried out at his home with his consent.
The suspect denied any involvement in the theft, stating that he found the bust on the steps of an underpass in Germasogeia as he was on his way home after walking. As he said, he simply carried the bust and placed it in an outdoor parking lot behind an apartment building, with the intention of selling it, without knowing that it was stolen. He also claimed that, with the help of a certain friend, he transported her to the place where she was located.
It is noted that the Police are still looking for the three relief busts, while another 18 statements are expected to be taken and two additional investigations are expected to be carried out.
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Around 8:20 last night, a vehicle was stopped for a check on Agias Anna Street in Strovolos. From a check of the driver's details, it was found that he was a 43-year-old man, who showed signs of intoxication.
The 43-year-old was taken to the offices of the Nicosia Traffic Police where he underwent a final alcohol test, with a positive reading of 148μg% instead of 22μg% which is the maximum limit by law.
The 43-year-old, after being arrested, was taken into custody and is expected to appear within the day before the Nicosia District Court, for the immediate registration of a case against him, in relation to the traffic offense he committed.
The Agios Dometios Police Station continues the examinations.
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A 41-year-old person was arrested yesterday by members of YKAN in Nicosia, as part of an investigated case involving the import of about seven kilograms of cannabis.
Specifically, during the month of February, he arrived in Cyprus through a courier company, a package containing about seven kilograms of cannabis. During the investigation of the case, testimony and consequently an arrest warrant were obtained against a 41-year-old man.
He was arrested yesterday afternoon, while in a subsequent search of his home, a small amount of cannabis, mobile phones and other evidence were found and confiscated, which will be properly examined.
The 41-year-old was taken into custody and is expected to appear before the Nicosia District Court within the day, for the purpose of issuing a detention order.
YKAN (Nicosia Unit) continues the examinations.
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Despite increased security measures and assurances of intensification of patrols, crime seems to be moving one step ahead of the Police. A new bombing in the early hours of the morning at a flower shop in Polemidia is added to a chain of criminal attacks that have taken place in recent months.
According to the Police, the perpetrators are two people who escaped on a motorcycle from the area. Various closed circuits have been put under the microscope to monitor the area, in an attempt to identify their movements.
At the same time, the owner stated in her testimony that she has no differences with anyone and does not suspect anyone. However, various scenarios have been put under the microscope and investigations into the motives will be extended to her close relatives.
The explosion occurred around 1:30 a.m., causing disruption to local residents. The explosion caused extensive damage to the façade of the property, while vehicles parked outside the flower shop were also damaged.
The examinations showed that the explosion was due to the detonation of an improvised low-power explosive device, which was placed at the entrance of the premises.
In his statements at the scene of the bomb attack, the head of the Limassol Police Department, Costas Michael, asked to answer whether there is testimony from closed circuits that record the movements of the perpetrators, stated that there is relevant testimony, however he did not want to expand further, so as not to affect the investigation of the case.
He added that the explosion was due to the detonation of an improvised explosive device, which contained low-power explosive material and caused damage to the entrance of the store and two parked vehicles.
Asked to respond to the fact that this is the second bomb attack in a few 24 hours, given the fact that increased measures are being taken, he noted that "it is indeed the second bombing in a few days. But let's not forget that the Limassol Police has succeeded in solving serious cases lately, some of which have been registered before the court. The last case is on a very good path of solving, which is due to the methodical and professionalism of the members of the Limassol Police Department."
He also mentioned that two arrests have been made in connection with the recent bombing against a restaurant owned by the 40-year-old Russian businessman in Limassol. The two suspects will be brought before the Limassol District Court today, where their detention will be requested for investigation of the case.
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The Supreme Constitutional Court put its final stamp on the finding that her marriage to a Greek Cypriot was fictitious, rejecting the appeal of a Ukrainian citizen and upholding the decisions of the competent authorities, after many years of investigation, which highlighted non-cohabitation, contradictions and problems of stay.
The case concerns a woman, who arrived in Cyprus in 2000 and in the following years secured residence permits, initially for work and then as an asylum seeker. After her asylum application was rejected, she married a Cypriot citizen in 2007, securing a residence permit as the wife of a European citizen until 2012.
However, since 2011, the competent authorities began investigations into the authenticity of the marriage, following indications that the couple did not live together. Checks by the Aliens and Immigration Service, as well as testimonies from neighbours and third parties, showed that the woman lived with her child, while the husband allegedly lived elsewhere. At the same time, contradictions were found in the statements of the two spouses, while evidence emerged of problems faced by the foreigner in relation to her residence status.
The Advisory Committee on Sham Marriages, at a meeting in 2015, concluded that the marriage was virtual. Subsequently, the Immigration Department and the Minister of the Interior adopted this position, rejecting the husband's hierarchical appeal in 2016.
The woman appealed to the Administrative Court, which rejected her appeal, ruling that the administration acted lawfully, after sufficient investigation and with full reasoning. She then appealed to the Supreme Constitutional Court, arguing that the findings of non-cohabitation and contradictory statements were erroneous and that a proper investigation had not been carried out.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, rejected the appellant's claims, pointing out that the evidence in the administrative file sufficiently substantiates the conclusions of the Authorities. As noted in the decision, the indications provided by law for the classification of a marriage as fictitious are not exhaustive and in this case there were multiple reasons, such as non-joint residence, contradictions in deposits and problems of staying abroad.
The Court placed particular emphasis on the findings of on-the-spot checks and interviews, which showed that the couple did not have a common family life. Among other things, the absence of the husband's personal belongings from the woman's residence, ignorance of basic information about relatives and contradictory reports regarding cohabitation were found.
At the same time, the claim that subsequent research overturned the initial conclusions was rejected, as the newer audits reached the same result. The Court also held that isolated testimonies were not sufficient to rebut all the evidence collected.
In conclusion, the Supreme Constitutional Court held that the administration acted within the framework of its legality and discretion, following a thorough investigation and with sufficient justification. Therefore, there was no need for judicial intervention.
The appeal was dismissed and costs amounting to €4,000 were awarded in favour of the Republic of Cyprus and against the appellant.
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A strange case, which, as everything shows, is not related to espionage, is being investigated by the Police who handcuffed six foreigners from Bangladesh, when they were found to be near military facilities in Avgorou.
According to the Police, the incident took place on March 22, when members of the National Guard informed about the presence of unknown people near the premises. The six foreigners were arrested and it was found that the two were in Cyprus illegally. All of them, according to information from Filenews, are expected to be deported by the Police.
The six people were taken to the Famagusta Court in Paralimni, which ordered their six-day detention.
The communications officer of the Police Headquarters, Kyriakos Kyriakou, said on Sigma's midday show that "so far it does not seem that the intentions of the specific persons were malicious, however, we will be able to position ourselves safely at the end of the examinations". He also noted that the case does not appear to be related to espionage.
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In a unanimous decision, the Permanent Criminal Court of Limassol ruled that the 5th defendant for the murder of Stavros Demosthenous should remain in custody until the start of the hearing, which was set for April 29.
In its decision, the Court referred to what was presented before it during the previous proceedings, on March 24. As noted, the Court wrongly dealt with the request for the detention of this defendant, making references to various court decisions.
On the basis of the above principles, the issues are not re-examined. It is noted that no new data have been put before the Criminal Court, nor has the witness material been differentiated.
The Court rejected the defense attorney's request to release his client. He noted that there is a possibility of conviction, referring to the details of the murder and the participation of the accused, at this stage.
The crime was committed on October 17, 2025, with six people accused: two 30-year-olds, a 31-year-old, a 51-year-old and two 28-year-olds. The Criminal Court, in its decision, also referred to details of the murder.
It is recalled that the six defendants face offenses such as premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, conspiracy to murder, arson, illegal possession, transportation and use of a firearm, as well as illegal possession, transportation and use of explosives, theft of a vehicle, participation in a criminal organization and theft (only for the 51-year-old accused).
The list of witnesses includes more than 125 persons.
