New suspect sought in attempted murder of Andronikou

Another suspect sought in attempted murder case of 34-year-old Dimitris Andronikou, known as "Dimitroui," which occurred on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, on the road from Palechoriou to Anthoupolis.

Speaking on the morning show of RIK, First Update, Police spokesperson Christos Andreou stated that indications suggest the eleventh suspect sought is abroad.

Furthermore, he added that from the evidence and testimonies gathered so far, among the detainees are accomplices and the perpetrator, confirming that the majority of those detained are of Arab origin, mostly Syrians.

Key figures among the detainees
Authorities believe they now have key figures in custody. Specifically, according to testimonies secured by investigators, it appears that some of those detained are both accomplices and perpetrators, some of whom have already been interrogated. It should be noted that the results of scientific examinations awaited by the authorities, from various evidence collected both from the scene and searched premises, will corroborate the testimonies.

Execution amidst night's veil
The backdrop to Andronikou's execution seems to be the nocturnal activities in Nicosia, and investigations by the prosecuting authorities are focused in this direction.

From the outset of the murder attempt, the investigators handling the case were almost certain that behind the criminal act lies settling of scores among individuals of the nightlife scene, who frequently clash over protection issues and various other activities.

The prosecuting authorities initially focused on two points: firstly, that "Dimitroui" had attracted police attention for various incidents, including assaults, and secondly, that the victim of the attempted murder was in the group of the deceased Alexi Mavromichalis (Alexoui), who was killed last October, a fact not overlooked by investigators.

Seven individuals under arrest
Police authorities made ten arrests on Saturday, three Greek Cypriots and seven foreigners. The first nine were brought before the court under tight security measures, in a lengthy process that began on Saturday and concluded on Sunday with the District Court of Nicosia's decision, accepting the police's request for eight-day detention of six of the detainees, aged 46, 40, 39, 30, 26, and 21, while the other three were released.

Regarding the tenth suspect, a 28-year-old apprehended in Larnaca after a large-scale police operation, he was also placed under eight-day detention following a court decision.

Weapons and scooter sought - "Dimitroui" battles for life
In recent days, a number of individuals have passed through the Nicosia CID, while at the same time, investigators have been meticulously studying closed-circuit footage, with a video under their microscope from the beginning, capturing frame by frame the murder attempt.

The perpetrators, who appear to have been well-versed in their movements, approached their target, riding a small scooter, and from a distance of almost two meters, shot "Dimitroui" three times, with one bullet hitting him in the neck. The police are searching for both the weapon and the scooter. It is under investigation whether the motorcycle found burnt on Friday night, April 26, in an open area on Kyrenia Avenue in Aglantzia, reported stolen in March 2020, is linked to the murder attempt.

Andronikou, 34, continues to be hospitalized in critical condition at Nicosia General Hospital, intubated.