Armed police officers and K9 sniffer dog units have locked down the Spyros Kyprianou athletic centre in Limassol ahead of tonight’s high-risk EuroLeague basketball derby between Israeli clubs Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv.
The match, scheduled to tip off at 21:05 on Thursday, marks the inaugural fixture of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s relocated EuroLeague home campaign in Cyprus, following the club’s decision to move its European fixtures to the island amid security concerns.
Spectators began entering the venue at 19:00 under stringent screening protocols, including mandatory body searches and walkthrough metal detector arches, as heavy police contingents established a tight security cordon around the arena and surrounding districts.
Police spokesman Vyronas Vyronos confirmed that Cyprus Police have finalised a multi-layered operational plan tailored to specific risk assessments and EuroLeague tournament requirements.
”This is a significant international sporting event that places Cyprus among the countries safely hosting and supporting high-demand international fixtures,” Vyronos said. “Police have completed a multi-layered operational plan adapted to our risk assessments and the demands of the competition.”
The deployment involves hundreds of officers from specialised units, including the Emergency Response Unit (MMAD) and anti-riot squads, tasked with maintaining crowd segregation and ensuring public safety throughout the evening.
