A significant security breach has been uncovered at a National Guard firing range near Kalo Chorio, Cyprus, where approximately 13.6 kilograms of TNT explosive material has disappeared. This discovery, made on Thursday, has prompted an immediate and thorough investigation involving the Ministry of Defence and various security agencies. The incident has cast a shadow over the island's military readiness and raised serious questions regarding the location of this potent ordnance.
The perplexing event occurred during a planned engineering training exercise. Two devices, each containing around 6.8 kilograms of TNT and designated for missile destruction, were positioned at the range for a controlled detonation. Following strict safety procedures, personnel waited for the mandatory hour before approaching the site. It was then that the alarming absence of the explosive charges was discovered. "It appears that after a controlled explosion did not occur, and after all safety protocols were followed, the trainees approached the area where the explosives were placed and did not find the two devices there," explained Defence Ministry spokesman Christos Pieris.
In response to this unsettling development, the firing range was promptly secured, and joint investigative efforts were initiated. The seriousness of the situation was further emphasised by the subsequent cancellation of a training exercise scheduled for the following day. The Chief of the National Guard, Emmanuel Theodorou, personally visited the range to oversee the ongoing inquiry, highlighting the high-level attention this security lapse has attracted.
Initial investigative steps have included aerial reconnaissance using a drone, which unfortunately yielded no positive results. A subsequent physical inspection of the area also failed to locate the missing TNT. Investigators are reportedly considering two main possibilities: either a deliberate act of theft or an accidental, undetected detonation of the explosives during the exercise. Statements are currently being collected from relevant personnel at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters. The disappearance of military-grade explosives, even in these quantities, poses a considerable security risk. The Defence Ministry has appealed to the public for any information that could assist in resolving this disquieting mystery and ensuring the safe recovery of the missing TNT.