Limassol is currently navigating a volatile period of heightened security concerns and escalating violence, as a suspected gangland vendetta has instigated a series of retaliatory assaults across the city. The latest incidents, involving the targeted stabbing of a businessman and the subsequent vandalism of a popular barbershop, have underscored the resurgence of organised criminal activity and prompted a significant increase in police presence. Authorities are working assiduously to quell the unrest and apprehend those responsible for the ongoing cycle of revenge.
The chain of events, which has cast a pall over the coastal city, appears to have been ignited on Saturday, December 20th, when a 36-year-old businessman fell victim to a brutal ambush. Approximately around 7:00 pm, the victim was reportedly incapacitated using electric stun devices by three unidentified male assailants before being inflicted with stab wounds to his shoulder blade. He is currently in critical but stable condition, receiving intensive care and intubation at a private hospital.
In a swift and seemingly retaliatory act, the conflict escalated further in the early hours of Monday, January 1st. Around 1:40 am, a well-known barbershop, situated on Anexartisias Street, became the target of an attack. Two masked individuals, wielding rocks, systematically shattered the establishment's glass storefront before proceeding to ransack the interior. This act of wanton destruction, occurring just days after the stabbing, has led Limassol authorities to perceive a "probable link" between the two incidents, as confirmed by Assistant Police Chief Lefteris Kyriakou.
Investigators are meticulously examining extensive CCTV footage and gathering forensic evidence in an effort to identify the perpetrators of both assaults. The Limassol Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is spearheading the inquiry, which is focusing on a 30-year-old Lebanese national, Mohamad Tleis, as a wanted suspect in connection with the barbershop vandalism. Concerns are mounting that Tleis may attempt to abscond from the island, potentially seeking refuge in the buffer zone leading to the occupied territories.
The underlying motivations behind this escalating feud are believed to be rooted in disputes connected to illicit drug trafficking and clandestine "protection" rackets, classic hallmarks of organised crime. The barbershop itself has a history of attracting trouble, having been the scene of a shooting incident in 2020, suggesting a pre-existing vulnerability to such violent encounters.
In response to the escalating threat, Assistant Police Chief Kyriakou stated, "We have intensified police presence and patrols in the area to prevent further escalation." This heightened police visibility is a tangible manifestation of the authorities' commitment to restoring order and deterring further acts of violence. Temporary 24-hour security personnel have also been deployed to safeguard specific locations deemed at risk. The impact of these events extends beyond the immediate victims, creating an atmosphere of unease within the community and posing a significant challenge to the long-term protection of private property from the capricious nature of such criminal endeavours. The ongoing investigation and increased security measures signal a determined effort to dismantle the networks fuelling this dangerous cycle of retribution.