Newsroom
Authorities in Limassol are investigating two separate arson incidents reported within hours of each other during the Christmas period, raising concerns about fire-related vandalism in the coastal city.
Late on Christmas Eve, unknown individuals set fires at a roundabout along the Limassol motorway in the Agios Athanasios area, police said. According to authorities, the suspects transported discarded materials to the roundabout and ignited at least two separate fires before fleeing the scene in different directions. Witness video obtained by a local traffic monitoring group showed the fires burning as vehicles passed nearby.
Police patrols responded quickly, but most of the group, estimated to include between five and seven youths, managed to escape. One minor was detained after a brief foot pursuit and arrested for an offense committed in the act. The suspect was later questioned in the presence of parents, legal counsel, and a juvenile probation officer, formally charged, and released pending a court summons. The Germasogeia Police Station is handling the investigation.
Several hours later, early Thursday morning, police and firefighters responded to another fire in Limassol involving a privately owned vehicle. The car, belonging to a 27-year-old man, was parked in the lot of his apartment building when it was engulfed in flames shortly after 5 a.m., authorities said.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but the vehicle sustained extensive damage, primarily to its front section. Preliminary examinations determined that the fire was deliberately set. No injuries were reported.
Police have not indicated whether the two incidents are connected, but both are being treated as arson cases. The Limassol Criminal Investigation Department continues to examine evidence from the vehicle fire, while separate inquiries remain underway into the motorway incident.
Authorities urged the public to report suspicious activity as investigations continue.
