A 42-year-old man was arrested while two more are wanted in relation to a protest by goat and sheep farmers during which they lit fires outside the presidential palace, police said on Thursday.
Three arrest warrants were issued following the fiery protest over the handling of the halloumi PDO while one of the suspects, aged 42, was arrested a few minutes before midnight on Wednesday.
Police said they are examining video material from the protest and it is possible new arrest warrants may be issued.
During the protest on Wednesday, which started at noon and continued until the afternoon, livestock breeders set fire to hay bales, dumped gallons of milk and blocked roads outside the presidential palace and other key traffic arteries.
Tensions peaked as the driver of a truck seemingly threatened to smash through the gates to the presidential palace, halting just inches away as police in riot gear stood their ground.
Later in the day, demonstrators made their way to the agriculture ministry where a number of protesters were admitted to discuss their grievances.
Halloumi secured PDO status last April and its production under that status started in October, however, seven months later, the relevant legislation has not been fully implemented.
The core of the dispute centres on the PDO stipulation that by 2024 a total of 51 per cent of the milk used in halloumi must be from goats or sheep. Until then, 20 per cent of the milk must be from goats and sheep. The farmers say producers are not strictly abiding by that.
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