A barber shop in Paphos was targeted in an arson attack on Thursday night.

A fire broke out in the shop at around 10.30pm, and while the fire brigade rushed to the scene and prevented it from spreading to neighbouring properties, the shop was completely destroyed.

The shop reportedly belonged to a 38-year-old man of Arab origin.

Paphos police’s assistant operations director Michalis Nikolaou said it appeared the fire had been “started maliciously”, but moved to clarify to the Cyprus Mail that it was not believed there was any racial motivation involved, but rather “personal differences”.

One man is wanted by police in connection with the incident.