Cyprus has revoked the international protection status of Palestinians involved in a violent street brawl in Larnaca on 17 January that exposed a protection racket targeting local businesses.
The Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection will now apply recently established legislation that allows the removal of international protection from foreigners who commit criminal offences, official sources told the Cyprus News Agency on Friday.
The 17 January incident on Grigori Afxentiou Avenue involved approximately 20 individuals armed with axes, clubs and iron bars in a daylight confrontation that included two gunshots fired in a crowded street. The brawl erupted after a Greek Cypriot businessman refused to pay protection fees to an organised crime syndicate.
During a raid on an apartment suspected of housing a fugitive from the incident, police arrested three Palestinian nationals after discovering eight rounds of 9mm military ammunition. Two remain in custody whilst the third was released after investigators found no link to the case.
The legislation allowing protection status removal followed a bill submitted by the deputy ministry.
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