Limassol, Cyprus – An anti-immigrant protest that took place in Limassol on Friday night descended into chaos and violence, revealing a shocking failure on the part of the police to maintain control over the situation. Molos, typically a peaceful area where people gather by the seaside, quickly transformed into a war zone as protestors engaged in wanton destruction. Cars and motorbikes were set ablaze, Molotov cocktails were hurled indiscriminately, and terrified onlookers fled for safety.
As the situation escalated, protestors targeted individuals based on their ethnicity, with reports of attacks on migrants of Asian descent. In one particularly distressing incident, an Asian woman saw her business ransacked, her cash stolen, and her livelihood destroyed. The protestors, who chanted anti-migrant slogans, seemed determined to drive out migrants from the country.
The protest, which began around 8 pm, was led by approximately 200 rioters dressed in black. Their chants included divisive slogans like “Cyprus is Greek” and disturbingly, they began with the words, “we’ll start with the blacks first and then police.”
Shockingly, police presence was notably absent during critical moments of the protest. The violence continued as protestors moved from Molos to other areas, leaving a trail of fires in their wake throughout the city.
The disturbing nature of the protest extended to targeted attacks on migrants, unchecked by the police. Businesses owned by foreign nationals, including a Syrian barbershop and a restaurant, were vandalized and looted. Despite the area’s known multicultural businesses, no police officers were present to protect them.
The protests saw a group of Syrian men witness their shop being destroyed while five police cars reportedly stood idle, doing nothing to intervene. The protestors stormed in, causing immense distress to the victims who sought shelter.
Even though riot police and anti-riot members were at the scene, their positioning appeared ineffective, and they failed to contain the violence. The police water cannon, Aiantas, remained unused, highlighting the law enforcement’s failure to control the situation.
The protestors’ unchecked rampage resulted in blocked roads, garbage cans set on fire, and widespread destruction. An officer was heard stating in shock, “Limassol has been burnt tonight.” Meanwhile, the smashed glass from a bus stop covered the pavement, and pedestrians wondered if public transport would continue operating. It became evident that the thugs, not the police, were in control of the area.
Ironically, despite the presence of numerous officers and anti-riot units, they were deployed in the wrong areas. Their failure to follow the march allowed protestors to branch out and attack migrants without consequence. No checks were conducted on those wearing balaclavas, and the police failed to protect migrants known to operate businesses in the area.
The protest ultimately left locals and business owners terrified, leading many to close their shops early. Even journalists were not safe, as some were attacked by the mob. As the violence intensified, pedestrians sought cover and fled the scene.
Two cars and two motorbikes were set on fire, and Molotov cocktails were hurled en masse in an area where people had come for a leisurely stroll and dinner. Families with children went from playing peacefully in the playground to fleeing in terror.
Although the police were aware of the planned protest, their response was woefully inadequate. Only hours after the violence erupted did they begin checking individuals, and by then, it was too late to prevent the widespread destruction and violence.
