Cyprus: Pictures of chaos in Limassol from rioters – 13 people arrested

Masked men indulged in destruction, burning rubbish bins and smashing shop windows, despite a strong police presence in the area – the Cypriot president called an emergency meeting

On Friday night, masked men surrounded Limassol city center during an anti-immigration protest, and police arrested 13 people.

As Cypriot media reported, masked bandits indulged in acts of destruction, burning rubbish bins and smashing shop windows, despite a strong police presence in the area.

It is noteworthy that the march started from the old port and headed towards Inairio, and the demonstrators caused amounts of material damage, and successively destroyed foreign shops, as well as the entrance to a hotel. The rioters set fire to garbage cans, and the vehicles of unsuspecting citizens were damaged by the fire.

Targeting journalists

Protesters initially targeted journalists, photographers and cinematographers who were in the area to cover the event. Indeed, a group of demonstrators verbally assaulted journalists, threw firecrackers at them, and threatened them, forcing media representatives to leave. In fact, there have been reports of attacks against foreigners, while cars and rubbish bins have been burned.

After that, the masked men approached the police officers and insulted them. The demonstrators quickly began throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, turning the event into a battlefield. Protesting rioters quickly took to the streets, police had to stop traffic, and teams responded with tear gas. Even late last night, the rioters went to other areas as well, and as a result the fire department was also called and “Aianda” was used.

The demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails and smashed shops containing civilians. Information indicates that incidents occurred in other areas in other parts of Gladstonos and Anexartesias.

On Saturday morning, President Nikos Christodoulides held an emergency meeting regarding the events that occurred on Friday night.

According to information from KYPE, President Christodoulides held a meeting on “The Unacceptable and Reprehensible” on Friday evening in Limassol, with the aim of determining responsibilities and discussing ways to deal with the situation.

The Ministers of Justice and Interior, the Public Prosecutor and the Assistant Public Prosecutor and those with operational responsibility in Limassol on behalf of the police, namely the Chief and Deputy Chief of Police and the Limassol Police Director, have been invited to the meeting and will be present.

The Deputy Minister of the President, the Government Representative, the Director of the President’s Office, and the Director of the President’s Press Office will also participate in the meeting.