Bouncer says drunk squaddies beat him up

By Martin Hellicar

A LARNACA bouncer yesterday claimed he had been the victim of a vicious attack by two drunk British soldiers in a Dhekelia nightclub.

But the British Bases said there was no evidence to prove British servicemen had been responsible for the assault on 46-year-old Panayiotis Hadjiantonis.

Hadjiantonis, from Oroklini, was yesterday recovering in Larnaca hospital following surgery on a broken nose and shin-bone. The injuries were sustained during an incident at the Millennium disco, on the Larnaca to Dhekelia road, at about 3.15am yesterday, police reported.

According to the bouncer, who is in charge of security at the popular night spot, his assailants hit him across the legs with a metal chair. Hadjiantonis told police his attackers were heavily inebriated British soldiers from the nearby Dhekelia base.

Larnaca police are investigating the incident in conjunction with Bases police, but bases spokesman Jon Brown said there appeared to be no conclusive evidence identifying the attackers as squaddies.

He said British military police had been called to the Millennium nightclub by the club owner at around 3.40am yesterday, but the incident was over by the time they got there.

“The manager told military police two males had come into the club, and one had attacked a Cypriot gentleman with a chair. He described the attacker as a tall English-looking male in white shirt,” Brown said.

“If it is subsequently proved that servicemen were involved than we will let justice take its full course, but at moment there is nothing to prove it was British serviceman at all,” the spokesman said.

He said bases police were ready to assist their Larnaca colleagues with inquiries.

British soldiers have in the past been banned from popular tourist resorts following incidents of violence.