Arrests up to seven for Eoka memorial violence

Police on Monday night made yet another arrest for the violent incidents which erupted over the weekend in Limassol, bringing the total number of arrests up to seven.

Two members of the public and six police officers were reported as injured in the incidents. As of Tuesday afternoon, four police officers have returned to their duties, with the remaining two still on recuperation leave.

The latest suspect arrested is a 23-year-old resident of Famagusta. A judicial warrant was pending against the suspect, under which he was remanded into custody.

Police continue to search for 11 persons and are working on identifying others involved in the incidents.

The anti-riot operation was tagged as “amateur” by police representative of the union Isotita, Nicos Loizides, who claimed that inexperienced cadets were sent to the scene.

However, police spokesman Lefteris Kyriacou denied the claim saying that 80 officers, triple the norm for such operations, had acted pre-emptively and the situation was handled efficiently in little over an hour with no major injuries.

Meanwhile, President Nicos Anastasiades supported the claim that police had acted professionally, and publicly condemned the perpetrators, calling them anarchists and drug addicts.