Investigations remain in the dark over the location of 13.6 kilograms of explosive mixture stolen last Thursday from the Kalo Chorio firing range in Larnaca during a National Guard 20th Engineering Company exercise.
Investigations are proceeding on two fronts: internally by the National Guard General Staff examining the circumstances that led to the explosives’ disappearance during the exercise, and by police to locate the perpetrators and the explosives.
An officer with the rank of brigadier is leading the internal army investigation, conducting interrogations and taking statements from all those involved to compile an incident report, according to information obtained by philenews. The process is expected to take several days due to the involvement of multiple people.
Evidence suggests National Guard personnel at the scene bear responsibility for inadequate supervision of the explosives and firing range.
All in the National Guard and Defence Ministry are dissatisfied, whilst Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas stated that responsibilities will be assigned where appropriate.
According to updated information, the material is a mixture of explosives including TNT and other incendiary components. A detonator is required to activate the material and cause an explosion.
On police investigations, all possibilities remain open, according to philenews information. The leading scenario investigators are examining involves metal collectors, a practice commonly observed at firing ranges after National Guard exercises conclude.
To avoid unpleasant and potentially dangerous incidents similar to past ammunition explosions in recycling plants, police issued a directive and immediately informed both metal traders and recycling plants.
The aim is to draw attention in case the 13.6 kilograms of material ends up at their facilities through collection or transport.
The scenario that the explosives ended up in criminal hands remains in the investigators’ frame, with investigations extending beyond Larnaca as reported previously.
Police are maintaining silence on the investigation’s progress whilst evaluation of information and testimonies by Larnaca CID continues.
Read more: