Police intensified patrols across all districts on Tuesday night in a concerted effort to prevent the use of firecrackers, the lighting of Easter bonfires and juvenile delinquency, resulting in the arrest of two 19-year-olds in Larnaca and a 16-year-old in Limassol.
According to a police announcement, patrols responded to multiple incidents involving fires and firecrackers at locations where young people had gathered, with the Fire Service called in to extinguish blazes in several cases.
In Larnaca, at around 9.45pm, officers were dispatched to an open area where a group of young people had lit a fire and were setting off firecrackers. The group fled on the arrival of police, but two 19-year-olds were stopped. One was found carrying a knife and four cylindrical firecrackers; the other had three cylindrical firecrackers in his possession. Both were arrested and held for questioning.
In Limassol, during a check in the grounds of a church, officers encountered a group of young people. A 16-year-old allegedly insulted the officers and attempted to flee, and was subsequently arrested. In a separate incident in the same district, a fire was discovered near a church and extinguished by the Fire Service.
In Nicosia, officers responded to two incidents involving groups of young people who had lit fires and were using firecrackers, with the Fire Service again intervening to bring the blazes under control.
Police said they are maintaining an enhanced presence and carrying out targeted operations across all districts, and called on the public to act responsibly and cooperate with the authorities.
Source: CNA