A man has died and two others were injured following a pursuit by the Aliens and Immigration Service (AIS) at an apartment building on Makarios Avenue in Larnaca, as they allegedly attempted to avoid arrest.
The operation took place on Thursday morning at the “Philanta” apartment complex, where, according to reports, individuals without legal residency status were living and complaints had been made regarding the occupation of vacant apartments. Shortly after 9 a.m., a large police presence arrived at the building, causing concern among residents.
According to the information available so far, three individuals attempted to escape by jumping from the fourth or fifth floor of the building. One man suffered severe head injuries and was transported in critical condition to Larnaca General Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Two other men, aged 27 and 38 and originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were found injured in open areas near the second floor and were also taken to hospital. Their condition has been described as serious but not life-threatening, with one of them expected to undergo surgery.
The Philanta building is one of three large residential complexes in Larnaca that have been under scrutiny since early May due to concerns about their safety and condition.
Larnaca Police Director Ioannis Kapnoulas rejected allegations that police officers used force, stating that the three men jumped before officers had reached the apartments. He further clarified that the arrests were carried out in the building’s common areas rather than inside individual apartments.
During the operation, between 19 and 22 people were arrested on suspicion of residing illegally in Cyprus. The incident has once again raised questions about both living conditions in deteriorating residential complexes and the methods used to enforce immigration policy. The Larnaca Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the death and the injuries.
