Newsroom
An African man believed to be under the influence of drugs entered the Holy Cross Catholic Church in central Nicosia around 3:00 PM on Tuesday, June 10, causing chaos before fleeing the scene.
Father Theo, the priest of the church, was inside when the man barged in and began overturning chairs, knocking over candelabras, and sweeping religious items off the altar. Fortunately, no major structural damage was reported.
The man is not a member of the parish but is known to Caritas, the Catholic charity organization that often supports vulnerable and at-risk individuals in the community.
Police responded quickly but were unable to apprehend the suspect, who had already run off. They are continuing their investigation and are expected to return to the church to gather more information.
Church officials are still assessing the scene, but initial reports indicate the damage was limited mostly to furnishings and altar decorations.
More updates to follow as the investigation unfolds.
