Shot policeman returns home

The police officer who was been critically injured in May in Ypsonas, Limassol, after being shot while on duty returned to Cyprus on Friday following treatment at a hospital in Israel.

Giorgos Georgiou, 37, arrived on Friday afternoon at Larnaca airport where he was welcomed by his family, the Limassol police chief and his colleague, Christis Nicolaou, 35, who was also injured by the shots fired at their patrol car on the night of May 5.

Georgiou said on his arrival that both he and his colleague would like to thank both the state and members of the public for their support.

He also thanked President Nicos Anastasiades, the health minister, Limassol police chief Nicos Nicou, and police chief Zacharias Chrysostomou, ‘who stood by us like a father’.

Georgiou expressed his gratitude to the doctors in Cyprus who, ‘did a miracle, but also to the doctors in Israel’.

Nicou expressed his satisfaction with the return of his colleague, ‘who has returned back and seems to be sound and strong’.

“We are very happy to have him back with us,” Nicou said.

He added that Georgiou will return to his duties when doctors give the green light.

The two officers were shot at in their car after responding to a call about a parked hire car, in which three persons were behaving suspiciously. On arrival at the scene shots were fired at the patrol car and the officers returned fire.

The injured officers were transferred to the Limassol general hospital. Due to the gravity of his situation, Georgiou was transferred to Israel.