Pafos Live 21 September 2026
The examinations of the members of the Paphos traffic police at the scene of the fatal accident showed that the 16-year-old student, after hitting a sidewalk, was ejected from the motorcycle and hit an EAC pole.
16-year-old Giorgos Hatziioannou from Agia Marina, a student of the second grade of Polis Chrysochous high school, lost his life in a new fatal road collision that occurred early yesterday afternoon in Argaka.
According to the police, around 3.30 yesterday afternoon, while the 16-year-old was riding a racing motorcycle, not registered, on Archbishop Makarios III Avenue in Argaka, outside the primary school of the community, following a westerly course, under circumstances that are being investigated, he lost control of the motorcycle, as a result of which he first crashed into the pavement, then into astake of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus and to be immobilized on the road.
The teenager was seriously injured, he was transported by ambulance to Polis Chrysochous Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The unfortunate Giorgos wore a protective suit. A helmet was found at the scene, but it is still unknown whether he was wearing it or holding it in his hand.
According to information, the unfortunate teenager was returning from a motorcycle racing track located north of the community of Argaka.
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As part of the actions and operations carried out by YKAN at the airports, in cooperation with the Customs Department, for the detection and seizure of narcotic substances, customs officers located on September 10 and 11, 2026, two suspicious packages in a temporary air cargo storage warehouse at Larnaca Airport. The packages came from third countries.
During the inspection of the packages, it was found that they contained a total of ten packages of green dry cannabis plant matter, with a total weight of 5 kilograms and 798 grams.
The packages were initially confiscated by the Customs Authorities and then received by YKAN for the purpose of investigating the cases.
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The Police arrested a 30-year-old man yesterday, as part of an investigation into a case of illegal employment and illegal stay on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
According to the data under examination, members of the Police went to a barbershop yesterday morning, to investigate information about illegal employment.
The 30-year-old, who was working illegally, was located at the premises, while the examinations that followed revealed that he resided illegally in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
During the process of his arrest for self-inflicted offenses, the 30-year-old pushed the members of the Police and left the premises, trying to escape.
He was stopped nearby and during his arrest, he attacked the members of the Police, hitting and biting them, as a result of which two members of the Police were injured and taken to the Nicosia General Hospital for examinations.
As it was found, one member suffered a haematoma and an eye injury, while the second suffered a shoulder dislocation.
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As part of the actions of the Police to combat poaching, members of the Poaching Unit of the MMAD, carried out an operation today in an area of the province of Larnaca.
During the operation, in an area where hunting is prohibited, three sound-producing devices for imitating the voices of wild birds were found in operation, as well as seven trapping nets.
In the networks, 103 wild birds were found trapped, which were alive and released into their natural habitat, as well as 12 dead wild birds.
Examinations are being carried out to locate the manager of the area, while the Regional Police Station of Kofinos continues the investigation.
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Filenews
Alarm in Limassol for two cases of robberies involving foreign food distributors, in which groups of young people are involved. In fact, an attempt was made for a third attack, with the victim managing to escape at the last minute. The Police proceeded to arrest four minors, while it is possible that it is the same gang that struck twice.
According to the data under investigation, around 8:25 last night, in Germasogeia, while a 26-year-old man was riding a motorcycle carrying a food transport box, with the insignia of a specific company, about ten people stopped his course and attacked him with clubs and stones.
The perpetrators stole the 26-year-old's motorcycle, his wallet and mobile phone, as well as his other personal belongings and fled.
Members of the Police went to the area for examinations. During the investigations, the police noticed a number of persons moving aggressively towards a food delivery man, who managed to escape by driving his motorcycle.
The suspects fled when they noticed the police, however the members of the Police managed to stop four of the suspects and proceeded to arrest them for flagrante delicto.
These are two 16-year-olds, a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old.
A bank card was found in the possession of a 16-year-old, for the possession of which he did not give satisfactory explanations, while a device for launching harmful gas was found in the possession of the 18-year-old.
Testimony was obtained against the four suspects regarding the robbery committed against the 26-year-old. Arrest warrants were issued against them, on the basis of which they were arrested and taken into custody.
The Limassol Police Department is investigating the case.
At the same time, the Police are also investigating a case of attack, committed last night, in the Mouttagiakas area, against a 26-year-old food distributor.
Specifically, while the 26-year-old food delivery man was riding a motorcycle to deliver a food order, around 9:40 last night, in the Mouttagiakas area, a number of people attacked him.
The examinations continue by the Limassol TAE and the Germasogeia Police Station, with the Police investigating the possibility that the incidents are connected.
Update - Three more attacks against food distributors that took place on the same night in the same area of Germasogeia, which have not been reported so far, have been put under the microscope of the investigators of the TAE Limassol, after last night's two robberies.
Four persons, including three minors, were brought before the Limassol Court today, Monday (21/9), where the investigators of the TAE Limassol requested in a closed-door procedure, their detention for a period of eight days, however, their lawyers objected. The Court adjourned to rule on the request.
Investigators are looking into whether the four suspects are connected to all three additional attacks that appear to have been recorded by CCTV in the area.
According to the evidence under investigation, the attacks appear to have been organized. One of the 16-year-olds claimed to have been informed by a peer, with whom he met, that a group of young people was going to attack delivery workers in "retaliation" because, as he told him, the previous day a delivery man had attacked a person in their group.
What the cameras recorded
From the inspection of the closed-circuit footage, near the site of the first robbery, it appears that a group of young people had gathered for a long time in a park in Germasogeia.
According to the evidence examined by the investigators, three other distributors seem to have passed through the same place, against whom attacks were made.
No complaint has been filed with the Police for the three specific attacks so far and it is being investigated whether they are connected to the four suspects.
The footage also shows that most of the faces were wearing black pants and black jerseys. This particular clothing shows, according to the evidence under investigation, similarities with the clothing of the four suspects when they were located and arrested.
The 16-year-old's allegations
The first 16-year-old was arrested at 21:30 by a member of the Limassol OPE. During the oral interrogation, he allegedly said, "yes, we were there too, but we didn't beat anyone."
In his written testimony, the 16-year-old claimed that he went with other persons to Germasogeia, where he met with the second 16-year-old.
As he mentioned, the second 16-year-old informed him that other people were going to attack delivery people, in retaliation for an attack that, according to what he told him, had taken place the day before from a delivery man to their own person. He claimed that they went to the scene only to watch and that they did not participate in the attacks.
According to the 16-year-old, there were about 20 people at the scene, who attacked and hit distributors passing through the area. As he mentioned, his motorcycle was also stolen from one of the distributors.
He also claimed that they then followed the team to another point, where the second 16-year-old suspect spoke to a person he knew. There, as he mentioned, they realized that they were looking for other distributors and decided to move away.
"I was just running with the others"
The 18-year-old was arrested by a member of OPE. After his arrest, he reportedly said: "I was just running with the others."
During the body search, he was found in the waist bag he was in possession of a device for launching harmful gases, black in color.
In his written testimony, the 18-year-old places himself in the area, but denies participating in the robbery.
He claimed he was walking with the second suspect, 16, and the 17-year-old, when they noticed people with covered faces attacking distributors with bats.
The 17-year-old denies involvement
The 17-year-old was arrested at 21:41 and, according to the same information, he allegedly replied to the policeman, "sorry, I didn't do anything".
He claimed that he was with the second 16-year-old and other persons near the scene, when they noticed a group of young people attacking a foreigner holding an electric bicycle with sticks.
He also claimed that they approached the foreigner to ask him if he needed help, but he refused.
The 17-year-old also gave various allegations about his movements, which are being investigated by investigators.
The bank card in the possession of the second 16-year-old
The second 16-year-old was arrested at 21:45. When his attention was drawn to the Law, he reportedly replied, "I did nothing."
During the physical search, he was found in possession of a bank card with the inscription "kauri finance", in the name of another person.
According to the Police, the 16-year-old did not give sufficient explanations for the possession of the card and was also arrested for the crime of illegal possession of property.
In his written testimony, he denied any involvement in the case and gave his own allegations about his movements during the time in question.
The investigators of the TAE Limassol continue the examinations, evaluating the footage from the closed circuits, the testimonies and the allegations of the four suspects.
At the same time, as philenews wrote in a previous article, it is being investigated whether they are connected to a second robbery that took place last night, in the Mouttagiakas area, against a 26-year-old food distributor.
Specifically, while the 26-year-old food delivery man was riding a motorcycle to deliver a food order, around 9:40 last night, in the Mouttagiakas area, a number of people attacked him.
The four are being investigated, among other things, for the offenses of conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery, illegal possession of offensive instruments, covering a person, vagabonds and wanderers, illegal possession of property and illegal possession of a device for launching harmful gases.
They are two 16-year-olds, one holder of a Cypriot identity card and the other from Israel, an 18-year-old from Greece and a 17-year-old from Italy. The three minors are students, while the 18-year-old is inactive.
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Nine people were arrested as part of preventive operations by the Police.
The arrest of the nine persons concerned various offenses, among others, robbery, illegal stay in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, refusal to provide a breath sample for an alcohol test, assault on a police officer, malicious damage, as well as pending fine warrants.
As part of these operations, during the night, 680 drivers and 204 passengers were stopped and checked. At the same time, 36 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency, where three complaints emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 346 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while 13 investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged.
Of the complaints made, 185 concerned exceeding the speed limit, while as part of the police examinations, six vehicles were detained.
154 alcohol tests were carried out, from which five complaints emerged, while preliminary drug tests recorded a positive result.
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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The investigations of the Famagusta Traffic Police continue to locate the unscrupulous driver who dragged a couple of tourists from Britain, 28 and 29 years old, in the early hours of Sunday and then left the scene, leaving them helpless. The 28-year-old was slightly injured, however her partner's condition remains critical and he is being treated by intubation.
According to information from filenews, the two young people were returning on foot to the accommodation in which they are staying, after having fun in a nightclub in the Pernera area in Paralimni. As they were walking on a dirt road on Vrysoudion Street, in the direction of the Agia Triada roundabout in Paralimni, under circumstances that are being investigated, they were dragged by a car. Immediately after the collision, the driver of the vehicle left the scene.
An ambulance was called to the scene, which transported the injured to the General Hospital of Famagusta. The 28-year-old, after receiving first aid, was discharged, while the 29-year-old has a severe craniocerebral injury, as well as multiple fractures and is being treated intubated in the Intensive Care Unit.
The Famagusta Traffic Police continues the examinations to determine the circumstances under which the collision occurred, as well as to locate the driver of the vehicle. Under the microscope, closed monitoring circuits of the area are being sought, while testimonies from residents are also being sought.
The Police asks anyone who knows anything that can help locate the vehicle involved or its driver, to contact the Famagusta Traffic Police at 23803028 phone or the nearest Police Station or the Citizen's Line at 1460.
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A private school in Nicosia was evacuated in the morning, after an email about an explosive device, which later turned out to be a hoax.
According to the Police, around 8:25 in the morning, an email was received about the placement of an explosive device in the school.
The authorities examined the incident and it turned out that it was a hoax. As a result, the children returned safely to their classrooms for the continuation of classes.
The examinations continue.
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New evidence that strengthens the testimony against the 50-year-old Palestinian, who is in custody in the case of the large quantities of ketamine found in Limassol, was presented today before the Limassol Court. The 50-year-old admitted to investigators that he received the buckets from a warehouse he indicated to the Police and kept them until he received instructions for their delivery.
The 50-year-old, according to the information submitted to the Court, during the request to renew his detention and that of the Israeli couple for another 8 days, claimed that for the security and the specific "job", he would receive the amount of €5.000. This admission comes at a time when investigators are gathering new evidence about the role of the 50-year-old and the Israeli couple in the drug imports, while documents, invoices, footage from closed circuit surveillance, as well as data from mobile phones have been put under the microscope. From the examinations carried out, it was found that three imports were made to import the total amount of approximately 390 kilograms of ketamine, with the first recorded on July 22, the second on August 12 and the third on September 9, 2026.
The name of the 50-year-old in the admissions documents
Particular emphasis is placed by the investigators on the data resulting from the waybills of imports. The buyer/consignee details of the shipments indicate a specific company, as well as the name and address of the 50-year-old Palestinian. According to the Police, he seems to have been the person who received the goods of the first two imports, as his name and personal phone number are written on the relevant documents.
For the first and second admissions, dated July 22 and August 12, respectively, the investigators secured, according to the evidence presented, material from closed circuit surveillance. The footage allegedly records the 50-year-old going to the warehouse he indicated, on July 23 and August 24, 2026, respectively, with two vehicles, in order to receive the goods.
The woman who communicated with the transport company
Further tests also linked the 51-year-old from Israel to the three admissions. According to YKAN, for the three imports, she contacted the offices of the transport company that undertook the import of the goods into Cyprus and after introducing herself by her name, she gave a specific email address and phone number. Investigators found that both the name and the phone number correspond to her details.
What the 50-year-old Palestinian said
During his written interrogation on 16/7, the 50-year-old Palestinian initially denied any involvement in the drug case and made various allegations. However, he then changed his attitude and admitted that he knew that the "shekels" found and received from his home contained drugs, but denied that he knew it was ketamine. He stated that he himself received the "shekels" from the warehouse he indicated and kept them until he was shown where to transport them. For this "job", he would receive €5,000. In relation to the second large amount of ketamine, weighing 263 kg, he declared ignorance and refused to answer questions.
Silence from the 53-year-old Israeli
On September 17, the 53-year-old Israeli was questioned in writing and respected the right to silence."
On the other hand, the Palestinian wife of the 50-year-old, according to the Police, denied any involvement in the case. In relation to the amount of ketamine found in the yard of her house, in buckets ("shekels"), she allegedly stated that she saw the specific packages for the first time, as this space is mainly used by her husband. At the same time, he said that he did not see who was transporting them there. It should be noted that she was released.
Photos of invoices and drugs on mobile phones
Of particular interest are the findings from the inspection of photographic material extracted from the suspects' mobile phones. On the Israeli's mobile phone, photos of invoices were found concerning the first two imports, dated July 22, for a quantity of 126 kilograms, and August 12, for a quantity of 263 kilograms.
According to the Police, the documents concern goods that the 50-year-old Palestinian allegedly received, on July 23 and August 24, respectively. At the same time, a pile of photos with various drugs and scales were found on the same mobile phone, among other things.
Warehouse searches in Europe
The mobile phone of the 53-year-old Israeli was also searched on the internet regarding the warehouses of a specific company in a European country, to which the goods of all three imports had been delivered, before they were sent to Cyprus.
Scientific examinations are expected
The three suspects were re-arrested after the new quantity, while a significant number of items were received as part of the examinations. Most of the evidence has been sent for scientific and other examinations, the results of which are considered important for the further course of the case. At the same time, an application has been sent for review and approval by the Legal Service for the issuance of a decree for access to the recorded content of the suspects' mobile phones. At the same time, in an effort to secure further testimony about the introduction of drugs into the Republic of Cyprus, but also the way of action of the suspects and their possible associates, a letter has already been sent for forwarding through Interpol to the authorities of Germany, from where the huge quantity seems to have been imported.
