Shots fired at mobile traffic camera in Xylofagou

Police are on alert after initial reports pointed to an apparent attack on Wednesday night against a mobile traffic camera van, as authorities are concerned over a pattern of the operators being intimidated.

But the two shots, fired at 9pm along the Xylofagou – Avgorou road, are now also being investigated as potentially being linked to illegal hunting, local media reported on Thursday.

According to the police, the driver reported that the incident happened as soon as he parked his vehicle.

The driver told police he heard a shot from a distance and saw bullets hitting the car. As soon as the driver started to leave, he heard a second shot from a closer distance which missed the car.

Officers went to investigated at the scene and determined that shotgun shots had been fired from more than 100 meters away.

The shots caused minor damage to the vehicle and the driver was not hurt.

The Famagusta CID is investigating the case.

Mobile traffic units have been targeted repeatedly since they were recently introduced, with multiple reports of the vans being shot at.

Perhaps the most brazen attack took place last year when a motorbike with two people sped by a van and fired two shots.

More recently, in August, a Paphos man was arrested after attacking a mobile unit.