Newsroom
A fire that reduced one of old Nicosia's most familiar landmarks to a burned-out shell was no accident, according to police.
A 16-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with Wednesday's fire at the abandoned building that once housed the legendary Corner Pub.
The blaze broke out at around 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 5 at the prominent building near the Presidential Palace, sending firefighters rushing to the scene as smoke rose over the capital.
Fire crews eventually brought the blaze under control, but not before extensive damage was caused. The building's roof was completely destroyed.
Once the flames were out, investigators moved in. Examinations by police and the Fire Service concluded that the fire had been started deliberately.
As the investigation continued, police said they obtained evidence allegedly linking a 16-year-old to the case. A court warrant was issued, and the teenager was arrested Thursday and taken into custody.
Police have not said what may have motivated the alleged arson or released further details about how they believe the fire was started.
The destruction has struck a nostalgic chord with many Nicosians because, although the building had long been abandoned, Corner Pub was anything but forgotten.
For more than three decades, it was a well-known meeting place for everyone from football fans and young people to businessmen, politicians, and families. It also became closely associated with Manchester United supporters in Cyprus and welcomed famous football figures, including Bobby Charlton and Sir Alex Ferguson.
The building had been part of the capital's landscape for so long that, for many residents passing along Demosthenes Severis Avenue, it remained simply "the Corner" even years after the pub itself was gone.
Now investigators are trying to establish how that chapter of the building's history came to such a destructive end.
Nicosia CID is continuing its investigation.
