Greek Cypriot Police arrested four individuals in connection to violent clashes that erupted after an ‘anti-ghettoisation’ protest in Chloraka/ Pafos.
Central roads in Chloraka turned into a battlefield, after yesterday’s protest by the residents, with a request to deal with irregular immigration and restore the feeling of security.
According to a police statement, some of the participants in the event broke up into smaller groups, committing acts of violence and causing malicious damage to the apartments and vehicles of people.
Speaking to the press, Police spokesperson Christos Andreas disclosed that so far, eight complaints have been submitted by foreigners.
He revealed that two individuals who were attacked resulting in injuries had filed reports, and in six other instances, complaints had been made about damage to property.
He said that the perpetrators were mainly hooded.
He said , four arrests of young people have been made so far, two new arrests are expected to be made, after the examination of the material from closed circuits in the area.
Police used teargas to disperse groups in an effort to prevent further attacks, while the anti-riot unit was called in.
A strong police force remains on site, including members of the riot squad.
Meanwhile spokesman Victoras Papadopoulos reacted to the incident by saying “without exception, all are expected to abide by the rule of law”.
“We will protect our country and our democracy and also fulfil our obligations towards the European union,” Papadopoulos said, speaking on CyBC’s morning programme.
Asked to address claims that the incidents were a “pogrom” against migrants, planned and carried out by far-right xenophobic elements, Papadopoulos was circumspect, pending clarification of the exact sequence and nature of events following a complete police report.
“We will not tolerate violence of any sort from anyone,” he said, adding “the government had acted decisively [with the relocation of migrants] to resolve an anomalous situation.”
Akel general secretary Stephanos Stephanou, however, speaking on the same programme did not mince words, unequivocally calling the night’s events an “organised pogrom” and blaming them on the current and previous state’s tolerance of far-right party Elam’s unacceptable racist, fanatical and anti-migration views.
( Source PIK News, in-cyprus, Cyprus Mail)
Related Posts
Half a million Gazans face ‘catastrophic levels’ of hunger: UN agency
Families often don't receive the full rations and frequency they need,’ WFP says Almost half a million people in the Read more
2024 could be world’s hottest year as June breaks records
Last month was the hottest June on record, the EU’s climate change monitoring service said on Monday, continuing a streak Read more
