An 18-year-old European citizen has been arrested by Larnaca CID in connection with an armed attack and arson incident at a car rental company on Pyla coastal road, during which a security guard was threatened at gunpoint.
The teenager was detained this morning as a suspect for conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, attempted murder, arson, and illegal possession of firearms and explosives, among other charges. He is scheduled to appear before court at 8:30 AM today for a detention order hearing.
Armed assault and vehicle arson attack
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, 14 August, when a vehicle approached the car rental company premises. Two masked individuals emerged from the vehicle – one carrying a pistol and the other holding a container of flammable liquid.
The armed suspect fired a single shot towards the security guard, who was inside the company offices at the time. The bullet struck a nearby column, missing the guard.
Under threat from the pistol, the gunman forced the security guard to lie on the ground whilst his accomplice doused four vehicles with flammable liquid before setting them ablaze. The security guard was not injured during the shooting incident.
Evidence collected from crime scene
The scene was examined by members of the Criminal Investigation Service, who collected numerous pieces of evidence including a cartridge case and bullet from the firearm discharge.
Investigators also retrieved closed-circuit television footage from the area that recorded the movements of the perpetrators, who had covered their faces during the attack.
Court appearance scheduled
The 18-year-old suspect faces multiple serious charges and will appear before magistrates this morning to determine whether he will be held in custody pending further investigation.
Police investigations continue as authorities work to identify and apprehend the second suspect involved in the attack.
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