Police swamp gangland haunts in Limassol

By Charlie Charalambous

REINFORCEMENTS from Nicosia have been sent to help Limassol police in an effort to stem the outbreak of gang-related crime.

Since this week’s bomb attack on Limassol pub owner Charalambos Neoptolemou – who is believed to be the third victim of an underworld feud in as many weeks – the police are taking no chances.

Neoptolemou, 29, is recovering in hospital after a remote-controlled device exploded outside his pub at around midnight on Monday.

Justice Minister Nicos Koshis has visited the victim in hospital and held an emergency meeting at Limassol police HQ – the second such meeting since Andros Aeroporos was shot dead outside the Show Palace cabaret last month – to consider tighter security measures.

Aeroporos and his two brothers were acquitted in June of carrying out a gangland machine-gun attack on Larnaca club owner Antonis Fanieros. Fanieros survived the attack, and his son Loucas also escaped unscathed in a gun attack in Larnaca last week.

After Wednesday’s meeting some 20 extra policeman from Nicosia’s rapid deployment units were deployed in Limassol yesterday.

Koshis is understood to have given strict instructions for the police to be especially vigilant when patrolling the town’s red light district, and to keep a close eye on those suspected of being involved in gang-related crime.

Press reports yesterday said Neoptolemou has given police the names of those he suspects planted the bomb at his pub.

There is also tight security at Limassol hospital, as Neoptolemou fears he could be the target of another hit.

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