Larnaca faces a serious problem with gang violence. Businesses are being threatened and attacked. This is causing a lot of fear among people. The gangs want to control protection rackets. They are doing bad things like shooting and fighting. Some people say the police did not act fast enough. This allowed criminals to become stronger.
This problem has been growing for months. About two months ago, criminals started asking businesses for money. They wanted "protection fees." This pressure got worse over the summer. Now, there have been violent events. Small shops and bigger restaurants are all affected. They are being asked for big payments.
The situation became much worse recently. Shots were fired near the police station. This shows the criminals are very brave. Before that, people attacked a restaurant with axes. These are not single events. They show organized groups are working together. They want to take over illegal businesses.
The police have arrested seven people. However, many main criminals are still free. This means the criminal groups are smart. Some people criticize the police leaders. They say the leaders did not stop the gangs early enough. Business owners and even some police officers are unhappy.
This rise in crime is worrying for everyone. It can hurt Larnaca's reputation as a safe place for tourists. If the criminals are not stopped soon, the city could be badly damaged. The next few weeks will be very important. We will see if the police can restore safety to the city.