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A 47-year-old well-known businessman from Larnaca narrowly escaped an apparent assassination attempt on Wednesday, after a gunman opened fire on him while he was cycling along a remote stretch of road in Aradippou.
The attack happened around 11:30 a.m., when the suspect, riding a black scooter, pulled up from behind and fired more than 10 shots at the businessman, who was heading toward Dromolaxia. In a twist of fate, not a single bullet hit the target.
Police say the gunman then ditched the stolen scooter and fled on foot into the surrounding fields. Despite a rapid response, officers have yet to locate him.
A brazen attack in broad daylight
“This was clearly a targeted hit,” a police source told local media, pointing to the method and setting. The area is uninhabited for several kilometers, making it an ideal escape route for someone trying to disappear.
The suspect, who wore a helmet during the attack, has not yet been identified. Investigators are also exploring the possibility that he had one or more accomplices. The fact that the scooter was abandoned raises questions about whether a second getaway vehicle may have been waiting nearby.
Police haven’t ruled out mechanical failure or even the gunman losing control of the scooter during the shooting.
Businessman speaks out
In his statement to authorities, the businessman said he was blindsided by the attack and never saw the shooter’s face. Still in shock, he managed to call police almost immediately after the shots were fired.
He reportedly shared some suspicions about who might want to harm him, though investigators are keeping details of those leads under wraps. The businessman’s professional dealings are being closely examined as part of the investigation.
Massive manhunt underway
Larnaca police launched a large-scale manhunt within minutes of the shooting. The area was locked down and combed by ground teams, sniffer dogs, drones, and even a police helicopter.
Elite units from the MMAD (Emergency Response Unit) and YPEGE (Crime Prevention Unit) joined forces with Larnaca officers, searching fields, premises, and other possible escape routes.
Police are also analyzing several items collected from the scene, including the abandoned scooter, which have been sent to the Criminal Investigation Service in Nicosia for forensic testing.
The investigation continues
As of Thursday morning, the shooter remains at large. Authorities are pursuing multiple leads and are not ruling anything out, from a personal vendetta to a business-related hit.
“It’s only by luck that this man is alive,” said a law enforcement official close to the case. “But whoever planned this wasn’t working alone and we intend to find out who was behind it.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Larnaca CID or the citizen hotline immediately.
