Limassol: Clashes between police and protesters against illegal migration

Limassol, Cyprus, has become a battlefield after riots erupted on September 1 during an anti-migration protest march following protests in Paphos, which is overrun by thousands of illegal immigrants.

At 20:00, on September 1, 2023, a rally was held in Limassol against illegal immigration and uncontrolled aggression by refugees.

The event gathered about 1000 people. The procession started from the amphitheater of Molos. The organizers asked the crowd to remain calm and not react to any provocations. However, in the area of ​​Limassol Marina, the crowd was met by the special riot control unit MMAD, which provoked the riots.

Already 10 minutes after the start of the action, several people in balaclavas decided to throw a Syrian sitting on a bench on Molos into the sea, but in the end changed their minds and beat him.

What did I do to them? the victim wondered.

Another foreigner himself jumped into the sea to avoid execution.

Firecrackers and Molotov cocktails were used. The protest marchers vandalized a barbershop, a fast food restaurant and three retail outlets owned by migrants. On Pavement cried an Asian woman – protesters smashed the window of her store and emptied the cash register.

“I have four children,” she whispered.

Video. Burning garbage cans and police on the Sea Road.

The police managed to separate the crowd, but it did not help. Some of the protesters turned around in the opposite direction, but they were met by an Ajax water cannon. The protesters successfully blocked the water cannon with burning garbage cans and freely walked along the embankment. Along the way, several shops and hairdressers belonging to people from eastern countries were put on fire.

According to the newspaper Phileleftheros, the riots spread to the city center, resulting in at least five people being injured, cars and shops were vandalized, and according to the Cypriot police, thirteen arrests were made.

Video. Burning garbage and fallen pots of flowers on the main shopping street of Anexartisias

According to the same source, street fighting took place between civilians and the police, with the authorities firing tear gas, causing an Aias vehicle to appear and journalists covering the incidents reporting the attack.

“Migrants out of Cyprus”

Television footage shows bystanders fleeing to safety as hooded men chant “Migrants out of Cyprusand start a riot. On Friday evening, President Nikos Christodoulidis spoke of the “shameful footage”, as reported by the RIK TV channel. On Saturday morning at the presidential residence, an emergency meeting was held with the participation of the responsible ministers, the police, civil defense and the fire department.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Cyprus, refugees and migrants today make up six percent of the country’s population.. In addition, this small island republic registers the highest number of asylum applications per year in EU in relation to the population. Refugee camps are overcrowded.

Incidents erupted in the village of Chloraka in Paphos a few days ago, again after Greek Cypriots protested over a migration problem as thousands of illegal immigrants from Asia and Africa settled there.

The police also arrested Greek Cypriots and Syrians who were put on trial.

Justice Minister Anna Prokopiou-Kukkidou and police chief Stelios Papatheodorou were heavily criticized for attending a meeting with foreigners, one of whom was wanted for serious crimes.

He was a Syrian citizen who, after being met at the Paphos Police Headquarters, was taken in a police car to his home instead of being arrested. He even made statements to the media threatening that the Syrians would turn Paphos upside down and enter Greek Cypriot homes.

Strange kidnapping

Meanwhile, the police are investigating a Greek Cypriot soldier’s “kidnapping” by a group of Syrians and intimidation.

The Syrians even “posted” the photos on social networks. The serviceman himself did not contact the police, who are skeptical about the real circumstances of the incident.

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