Body found in burning car

A CHARRED body was yesterday discovered in a burnt-out car on the old Limassol to Nicosia road.

Police said last night that preliminary investigations suggested the body belonged to the vehicle’s owner, Demetris Andreou, 56, a mechanic from Latsia.

Police said there was little to indicate the accident had been caused maliciously, and said that an autopsy would be carried out on Tuesday.

Andreou’s identity would be confirmed by DNA testing, police continued.

Larnaca and Kofinou fire-brigades were called to the scene shortly before noon, when a passing driver saw the burning car.

Once the fire services had extinguished the flames, they discovered the remains of a human body in the diver’s seat.

Police said the driver had been wearing a safety-belt, but would not confirm reports that canisters possibly containing flammable material had been found in the car.

The vehicle, a Volkswagen van, was completely destroyed by the time the flames were extinguished.

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