Larnaca mayor condemns New Year’s incidents, calls for more policing

Larnaca mayor, Andreas Vyras, on Tuesday condemned the violent incidents that erupted on New Year’s Eve in Finikoudes, on the city’s seafront.

There should not be such images in an area that is the “mirror” of Larnaca, the mayor told the daily Phile, adding that the municipality has long requested better policing of the city’s iconic strip.

Permanent policing on the beach front of Athens Avenue is needed the mayor said, noting he had sent a letter to the police chief and two meetings had been held on the matter a few months ago.

“Finikoudes is not a ghetto, nor an inaccessible place. In 2022 the beach front [has seen] increased traffic and should be protected. The police are responsible for that,” Vyras stated.

Larnaca police, meanwhile, are continuing to investigate the incident and search for those involved in the fight. Various items of evidence, including bottles and planks, were recovered from the area as evidence, and have been sent for examination, while social media images on TikTok, as well as CCTV footage, are being scrutinised.

From preliminary evidence, it appears that those involved were of Indian origin. Two injured persons, 29 and 26 years old, were taken to the Larnaca hospital. The 29-year-old suffered head injuries and a broken arm while the 26-year-old suffered skull fractures, head injuries and complete amputation of two fingers.

Police have so far established that the 26-year-old is illegally in the territory of the Republic and he is under arrest. A criminal case is also pending against him in Paphos, for which he was ordered to appear before the Court.