NICOSIA – A disquieting security lapse has emerged from Cyprus's National Guard, with approximately 13.6 kilograms of TNT explosives unaccounted for following a failed controlled detonation at a military firing range. The alarming disappearance, discovered on Thursday, has prompted an immediate and intensive joint investigation by the National Guard and the Cyprus Police, raising significant concerns about the potential misuse of the potent ordnance.
The missing explosives, comprising two devices each weighing roughly 6.8 kilograms, were slated for destruction during a specialised engineer training exercise at the Kalo Chorio firing range in the Larnaca district. The operation was designed to safely neutralise the explosives, a standard procedure for ordnance deemed unfit for use or as part of demolition training. However, the intended controlled explosion failed to materialise, triggering a chain of events that culminated in the perplexing discovery of the missing material.
According to Christos Pieris, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry, the sequence of events unfolded precisely as dictated by safety protocols. Following the unsuccessful detonation attempt, personnel meticulously adhered to established safety measures, maintaining a mandated one-hour cordon around the detonation site. It was only after this waiting period, when trainees approached the designated area at approximately 3 pm on Thursday, that the absence of the two explosive devices became apparent. "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," Pieris stated, underscoring the unsettling nature of the discovery. "That’s when the concern arose."
The initial response involved an aerial reconnaissance using a drone and a subsequent thorough ground inspection of the immediate vicinity, neither of which yielded any sign of the missing TNT. The area was promptly cordoned off by authorities, and preliminary investigative steps, including the taking of statements from personnel present at the range, commenced forthwith. The gravity of the situation was further underscored on Friday when Emmanuel Theodorou, the National Guard chief, personally visited the firing range to oversee the ongoing inquiry. Consequently, a separate training exercise scheduled for Friday at the same location was postponed, a clear indication of the operational disruption and heightened alert.
Investigators are currently exploring a dual hypothesis: either the explosives were stealthily removed from the site, suggesting a potential theft, or, less likely but not entirely discounted, an undetected, simultaneous explosion occurred, rendering the devices inert without the expected sensory confirmation. The precise circumstances surrounding the failure of the controlled detonation itself are also under scrutiny, forming a crucial element of the investigation.
The disappearance of military-grade explosives, even in what might seem like a relatively small quantity, represents a profound security breach and a palpable threat. The potential ramifications of 13.6 kilograms of TNT falling into unauthorised hands are severe, prompting a swift and comprehensive response from Cypriot defence and law enforcement agencies. The focus remains squarely on locating the missing material and identifying any individuals responsible for its disappearance, while simultaneously bolstering security measures to prevent any recurrence of such a disconcerting incident.