Police alarmed after speed camera van shot at

Police are investigating a shooting incident on the highway in rural Nicosia on Thursday night, when shots were fired at a traffic camera van injuring two employees who were on duty.

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According to police, two employees working in a traffic camera van along the Kokkinotrimithia-Nicosia highway heard two loud noises late night Thursday, around 11:35pm, with the window on the front passenger side being smashed at the same time.

The driver immediately started the engine and the two men took off straight to Nicosia General Hospital after realizing there had injuries in the back of their heads.

Findings from a preliminary investigation suggested the van was targeted with a hunting rifle but no information was immediately known about the shooter.

The incident took place east of Kokkinotrimithia on the highway where the van was parked off the side of eastbound traffic, near the exit towards Denia.

Police spokesperson Christos Andreou told state radio on Friday morning that the incident was being treated as very serious.

An official incident report said police were investigating attempted murder but no further details were provided regarding a suspected motive.

Officials said there have been numerous incidents where drivers of traffic camera vans had been targeted and even assaulted by motorists, who often object to being caught while allegedly speeding on the highway.

The company has recently ordered all units to carry out their duties in pairs, so that no single person would ever be alone at night.