“There is no information about a new bloodbath,” the police chief said after the two killings were committed in less than 48 hours.
For the two murders that were committed, was there any information? Do criminals usually inform the police of what they are going to do? Or are the police able to know the movements of the underworld in advance? And what does bloodshed mean? Aren’t the two murders already considered bloodshed?
But the most important question of the citizens is this: At a time when Cyprus is – supposedly – a fortress in terms of security, to prevent any acts of terrorism, how is it possible that some people can so easily commit murders? At times, moreover, when citizens -including police officers- are not sleeping in their homes, but are out and about. In their neighborhoods, on the streets, on the beaches…
Thanasis Kalogeropoulos was murdered at 8 a.m., in a crowded area, amidst several customers who could have been collateral damage. Alexis Mavromichalis was murdered at 9 p.m. while standing on the balcony of his apartment in a densely populated area of apartment buildings. In both cases, the perpetrators were perfect professionals. But citizens cannot always rely on the professionalism of the killers. What if a bullet got away and found another target? The lower balcony? The one next door where, perhaps, a man who had never had a score to settle? A man who went out to water his pots? A man who went out to pick up the clothes from the balcony?
When news of a murder is accompanied by phrases like “open accounts”, “frequent target”, “police acquaintance” and the like, citizens tend to feel that it’s none of our business. It’s just business in the underworld. But the underworld is part of the same world we all live in, law-abiding and criminal. It can’t be none of our business that a sniper is standing across the street from our house shooting. It can’t be of no concern to us that people are walking around with guns and opening fire where we walk. And they do so with so much confidence and so much assurance that no one can notice them, much less spot them. In both cases, the perpetrators left the scene with ease and then set fire to the vehicles they used, which in both cases were stolen. Such organisation and professionalism, What a shame that only the underworld stands out for its organising skills and professionalism.
