Cabaret bomb linked to protection racket

A BOMB blast which rocked a packed Ayia Napa cabaret on Tuesday night is being linked to an underworld protection racket.

Over 30 punters and 20 cabaret girls escaped unharmed when a home-made bomb was thrown on to the roof covering the back entrance of the basement Moulin Rouge club.

But the spherical device rolled towards the entrance where bouncers had to dive for cover just before the blast, at around 11.25 pm.

The explosion caused extensive damage to the outside of the building on Nissi avenue.

Police said the owners of the club, Pieris Christofi and Andreas Charalambous, had been targets for underworld gangs seeking protection money.

Eighteen months ago, Christofi’s home was the target of an unexploded bomb placed on the verandah.

At around the same period, shots were fired at Christofi’s Ayia Napa home.

And Tuesday’s bomb attack was the second such incident against the cabaret.

The first bomb was placed outside the Moulin Rouge (as a warning) before it officially opened for business.

Damage from the first attack meant the owner had to delay the club’s opening.

Famagusta CID are investigating the incident.

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