Pafos Live 3 April 2026
Around 4.40 yesterday afternoon, a fire broke out in the detention center of the Limassol Central Police Station, in which there were a number of detainees. Members of the Police immediately removed the detainees and placed them in a safe place at the Police Headquarters.
A 39-year-old defendant was injured in the fire, who was first taken to the Limassol General Hospital and then to the Nicosia General Hospital where he was detained for treatment after having second and third degree burns on various parts of his body. He is in recovery.
Two detainees and four members of the Police with respiratory problems were also taken to the Limassol General Hospital. They were given first aid and discharged. From preliminary examinations, the fire seems to have started from the cell where the 39-year-old was being held alone.
All the prisoners were transferred and placed in detention centers in other provinces. Four detainees who had been placed in the detention center of the Paphos Police Department, complained of discomfort from smoke inhalation and were taken to Paphos General Hospital where they were given first aid and discharged.
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Filenews
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 arrested one person for a case of illegal possession of property and traffic violations.
During the night, 400 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 542 drivers and passengers were checked. At the same time, 25 inspections of premises were carried out, during which 4 complaints emerged regarding the terms of their operating license.
During traffic checks carried out, 170 complaints were made about various traffic violations, of which 51 concern driving at excessive speed. A total of 146 alcohol tests were carried out, while two persons were found positive in a preliminary drug test. Also, as part of the police examinations, ten 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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A twist has occurred in the much-praised case of attempted murder committed outside a beach hotel in Limassol last September, against a 42-year-old Ukrainian, who was shot in the abdomen after a fight. The 39-year-old defendant, who until now faced serious charges, including that of attempted murder, will now be tried only for the crime of complicity after committing.
A decisive development was the attitude of the two complainants, the injured man and his partner, who today (2/4/26) before the Limassol Criminal Court stated under oath that they have no complaint against the accused. They expressed the same position in writing to the Legal Service, asking them to withdraw their complaint. This is the 42-year-old Ukrainian who was shot, but also his partner, who in their initial statements to the Police claimed that they received threats in order to pay half a million euros for "protection" and in fact this was the reason for the meeting at the hotel.
At the beginning of today's proceedings, the representative of the Prosecution requested that a new charge be added to the indictment, which concerns complicity after the commission. Specifically, the 39-year-old defendant allegedly provided assistance to the 44-year-old Russian wanted man, known as "Dato", in order to escape after the incident. After the new charge was brought against him, the 39-year-old denied guilt.
Subsequently, the two complainants were called to the witness stand, who stated under oath that they have no complaints. In fact, their written statements were also submitted before the Criminal Court. Following this development, the Prosecuting Authority requested that the charges faced by the 39-year-old defendant be suspended, which concerned attempted murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, demanding money with threats for the purpose of theft and threatening.
The case was set for a hearing on the one and only charge that the 39-year-old is now facing, that of complicity after committing, in early June. Subsequently, it was requested that restrictive conditions be set to ensure his presence in Court since he was currently on trial. Specifically, he will sign a financial guarantee of €150,000 with a creditable guarantor, report twice to a police station, hand over his travel documents, put his name on the list of persons prohibited from leaving the country and be prohibited from passing through the barricades.
As for the 44-year-old wanted man, known as "Dato", European and international arrest warrants have already been issued against him to locate him, as he is considered extremely dangerous.
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A disturbance was caused on Thursday night (2/4) in the area of Agios Nikolaos, when young people set fire to tyres and a bin and caused a nuisance with malicious actions.
According to information from the Police, around 22:00 unknown young persons placed tyres in the road, in the area of Agios Nikolaos and set fire, and then set fire to a trash can, causing concern to the residents as well as to passing drivers.
The Fire Service immediately rushed to the scene, which proceeded to extinguish the fires, preventing their spread. At the same time, the Police were also notified, members of which went to the place to locate the perpetrators.
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The unprecedented incident that took place today (3/4) inside the hall of the Limassol Permanent Criminal Court causes shock and revulsion.
Accused, as soon as he was notified of the prison sentence imposed on him by the Criminal Court, he broke out violently and attacked, punching a representative of the Prosecuting Authority in the face, as he left the dock.
Despite the fact that he was accompanied by members of the MMAD, the attack was not prevented in time, as the police were taken by surprise.
Subsequently, the convict was immobilized by police officers who were in the Court. The representative of the Prosecuting Authority suffered a facial injury and was transported by ambulance to the Hospital.
It is worth mentioning that the incident happened after the three-member Criminal Court had left the room after the sentence was announced.
It is noted that the accused was sentenced to four years in prison for a case of kidnapping a woman.
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They pleaded guilty and the Limassol Permanent Criminal Court imposed a supervision order on them by a guardianship officer for 3 years. These are four minors, a 14-year-old, a 15-year-old and two 17-year-olds, who are accused of involvement in five serious criminal acts committed last May in Limassol. Along with them, the accused is the 23-year-old, who is said to be the person who paid for the placement of the explosive devices. The 23-year-old denies the charges and remains on trial in the Central Prison.
The case was heard before the Limassol Criminal Court in a closed-door procedure, due to the fact that four of the five defendants are minors. In exchange for a small monetary reward, it seems that the minors had taken on the role of bombers in Limassol, causing a headache for the Limassol Police Department with their action.
As filenews wrote in a previous report, the four minors were initially arrested for the bakery robbery, committed on June 8, 2025, as well as for the theft of a vehicle. However, in the continuation of the examinations, testimony emerged against them for other criminal acts. Specifically, for the bomb attack in a beer hall on May 29, while they were also linked to a bomb explosion in the vehicle of a 26-year-old friend of the owner of the beer hall (May 30, 2025), as well as to the placement of a bomb in the machine shop of a 43-year-old Syrian on May 26.
The 23-year-old accused, according to testimony obtained by the investigators of the Limassol Police Department, is said to be the person who financed the attacks, giving small amounts of money to the two 17-year-olds to carry out the criminal acts.
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A fire broke out in an area of the Technical School, opposite the Limassol Police Department, causing the mobilization of the authorities.
According to the first information, tires were burning at the scene, resulting in thick smoke that became visible from the wider area.
The Fire Service is rushing to the scene to extinguish the fire, while the circumstances under which the incident occurred are being investigated.
