A 35-year-old Egyptian man has died in a prison in Cyprus after a fight with another prisoner. Police are now investigating a murder. The incident happened on Sunday night in the Central Prisons. Authorities have arrested a 30-year-old Greek Cypriot man because they suspect he planned the killing.
The fight started in a high-security area of the prison where both men lived. Police say it began as an argument and then became physical. The suspect told police that he had a dispute with the victim and hit him. Investigators are still trying to understand why the fight started. They are looking at different ideas, including personal problems or possible gang issues in the prison.
After the fight, the Egyptian prisoner had an injury below his left eye. He walked to a guard's office but collapsed about ten minutes later. Prison staff gave him first aid, and then he was taken to a private hospital in Nicosia. Unfortunately, he died there. Doctors will do an autopsy to find the exact cause of death. There are reports that the victim may have had an unknown substance sprayed on him during the attack.
The police investigation is big and serious. Officers are watching CCTV video from the prison and have spoken to many witnesses. They plan to talk to many more. The suspect appeared in court on Tuesday. The court decided he must stay in custody for eight more days because the crime is very serious and the investigation is at an early stage.
This event has raised major concerns about safety and the well-being of people in Cyprus's prisons. It shows the difficulty of stopping violence between prisoners. Prison authorities will likely review their rules and how they manage conflicts. The case highlights the dangerous and complex life inside prisons.