A 35-year-old property manager has been remanded in custody for eight days following violent clashes that took place yesterday at a residential complex in Oroklini, resulting in the critical injury of a 27-year-old foreign national and serious injuries to a two-month-old infant. The complex was reportedly home to several undocumented migrants, most of whom are of African descent.
The suspect is facing charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, causing grievous bodily harm, and wounding.
According to testimony presented during the detention hearing, at around 10:30 AM yesterday, a foreign national called the police, reporting that a group of 15 individuals had arrived at the complex on behalf of the property owner to attempt to remove the migrants. Police officers arrived on the scene and found that the situation had calmed down. However, at approximately 12:30 PM, fresh and severe clashes broke out between the migrants and a group reportedly mobilized by the 35-year-old. Witnesses claim that the latter group wore hoods and masks and were armed with knives and other sharp objects.
Additional police units were called to the scene, and according to the police, migrants began throwing stones at officers. In an effort to restore order, tear gas was deployed. The situation escalated further when a 27-year-old man from the Congo was found bleeding on a main road in Oroklini, having been transported there by others. A video circulating online shows the man being carried away following the violence. The infant was also injured, as was the child’s father, who sustained a wound to his hand. All victims were transported to Larnaca General Hospital.
The 27-year-old man suffered a severe head injury, was intubated, and transferred to the Nicosia General Hospital, where he remains in critical condition. The infant was taken to Makarios Hospital for treatment.
The investigating officer confirmed that approximately 15 individuals, under the direction of the 35-year-old, attempted to forcefully evict the migrants. The manager is accused of coordinating the operation. The complex was recently sold to a foreign investor. According to migrant testimonies, those dispatched to remove the migrants not only carried knives but also axes, which they used to break down apartment doors.
In court, it was also revealed that there are reports of additional individuals injured during the violent clashes, with investigations underway to locate them in private clinics. The police are actively seeking other individuals connected to the incident and are collecting testimonies from locals and videos circulating online.
