A police operation against late-night public disturbance ended in chaos early Wednesday morning, leaving a suspect fighting for his life in intensive care and a police officer injured after a high-speed confrontation.
The incident began shortly after midnight on 24 December, when patrol units responded to reports of a disturbance in Limassol. Upon arrival, officers encountered two high-powered motorcycles and two cars. The drivers immediately attempted to flee, ignoring police signals and ramming their vehicles into patrol cars to clear an escape route. During the impact, one officer sustained injuries to his leg and required medical attention.
The pursuit of one of the vehicles led to a violent struggle as a 31-year-old Limassol resident resisted arrest. Authorities said officers reportedly used “proportionate force” to subdue the suspect, who was found to have a baton, a stun gun, ammunition, and drugs. Shortly after being taken into custody, the man lost consciousness and collapsed.
He was rushed to Limassol General Hospital before being transferred to the Nicosia General Hospital ICU, where he remains intubated. Clinical tests confirmed the presence of narcotics in his system, while initial medical evaluations found no external injuries or trauma that would account for his condition, pointing towards a drug-induced collapse.
The crackdown resulted in two further arrests: a 21-year-old man and a 15-year-old youth. Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt for a fourth individual who successfully evaded the perimeter on a motorcycle. Investigators later confirmed that the getaway vehicle had been reported stolen in Limassol last November.
The Limassol Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is continuing its enquiries into the disturbance and the origin of the seized weaponry. The condition of the 31-year-old suspect remains critical, and the injured officer is expected to make a full recovery.