A violent fight happened on a busy street in Larnaca. It showed how dangerous a new criminal group is. The shootout on Saturday afternoon also started a big discussion. This discussion is about protecting politicians. The problem began because a businessman refused to pay money.
Criminals wanted "protection" money. They used guns. This made business owners feel afraid. Police think the group hurt businesses for weeks. They used threats to get what they wanted. The group tried to control a nightclub's security. They also made another place sign a bad deal. Police are looking for a 48-year-old Cypriot man. He is thought to be the leader. Three foreign men are also important.
Police searched an apartment. They thought a criminal was hiding there. They caught three men from Palestine. They also found strong bullets. This shows the group has serious weapons. Police are trying to understand how the group works. They think it is not just about threats. There might be other illegal activities.
However, stopping this crime group is hard. This is because of a problem with politicians' protection. This protection started in 1960. It makes it hard to get justice quickly. A politician named Nikos Sykas is being investigated. Police cannot question him yet. The Attorney General must ask the Supreme Court to remove his protection. This takes time and needs court permission.
People have tried to change this protection for many years. They tried in 2012 and 2016. But nothing has changed. Some people say this protection means politicians are not always responsible. This makes people lose trust.
The fight in Larnaca reminds us of the danger from crime. The slow progress on politicians' protection shows justice is difficult.