The investigation into the attempted murder that occurred on Monday afternoon Aglandjia is progressing rapidly, according to police spokesperson Christos Andreou.
Andreou said that authorities are focusing their efforts on the shell casings found at the scene, and closed-circuit television footage from the area has already been collected.
The incident took place on Larnaca Avenue shortly after 5:15pm, after the 49-year-old would-be victim stopped his car outside a kiosk and his 17-year-old son got out of the vehicle.
An unknown person opened fire on the car when the son returned to the vehicle. Two shots were fired, but did not hit the target, his son, or his 15-year-old daughter who was sat in the car’s back seat.
Phileleftheros reported rumours that the would-be victim may have been connected to Alexis Mavromichalis, who was shot dead while standing on the balcony of his apartment in Nicosia in October.
Andreou expressed deep concern over the fact that gunshots were fired while two children were inside the vehicle.
We are making every effort to solve this particular case,” he said. “We have already collected some evidence from the scene, which we believe will assist in the investigative process. Some closed-circuit cameras are expected to be evaluated today by the investigators.”
According to Andreou, the 49-year-old is expected to testify on Tuesday and has already told the police how the events unfolded. However, it is yet to be clarified whether the perpetrator set up an ambush.
It appears that the first shot was fired at the windscreen, and the second shot was fired at the door window while the victim was attempting to leave the scene,” Andreou explained, adding that the target has been involved in various similar cases in the past.
The head of the Nicosia CID Andreas Lambianou also spoke on Monday, saying that evidence from bystanders at the scene is also being collected.
“All information is being examined. There are some testimonies about how the incident unfolded,” he said, adding that it remains uncertain whether the perpetrator was in a vehicle or on foot.
There were no reported injuries, but the vehicles windscreen and door window were damaged.
Meanwhile, on Monday, representatives of the police force have called for increased support to effectively combat organised crime.
Speaking to Trito, the secretary of the police association Lefteris Kyriakou stressed the need to bolster special units, such as the drug squad Ykan and the crime prevention squads by allocating additional personnel.
Kyriakou also highlighted the necessity to review certain legislation related to the functioning of the police force.
On top of that, trade union Isotitas police department chairman Nikos Loizides added that the current force is inadequate to address organised crime and the underworld effectively.
Loizides stressed “the imperative need to establish a specialised unit for this purpose” and suggested the closure of existing departments that might not align with the requirements of tackling organised crime.
During a meeting at the police headquarters with newly appointed Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis, a delegation of the union discussed the need to enhance their efforts against the underworld.
Speaking on the Alpha radio show, Loizides said that “a reshuffling [OF THE POLICE FORCE] is imperative to reduce crime, promptly respond to incidents and, when possible, prevent them from happening.”
“We are playing in defence and losing 5-0 against the underworld and organised crime, Loizides said, calling the way the force “obsolete”.
Concerning personnel, Loizides highlighted a communication gap with the police leadership. He also pointed the finger at the composition of various police units, noting that 80 per cent of the rapid response unit (MMAD) consists of probationary officers.
Twenty per cent of organised crime is visible; the other 80 per cent is invisible, he said.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Mail
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Mail
Source
