Kiosk owner dies from wounds after robbery assault

A KIOSK owner beaten over the head during an attempted robbery was yesterday reported clinically dead.

Fivos Michaelides, 56, was locking up his kiosk on Limassol’s Makarios Avenue last Sunday when he was attacked by an unknown individual who hit him on the head with what is believed to be a crowbar in a bid to steal the day’s earnings.

The perpetrator left empty handed, as Michaelides did not carry any cash on him.

The kiosk owner was seriously injured and was rushed to Nicosia general hospital where he was placed on the ventilator.

Reports yesterday said the man was clinically dead.

Justice Minister Doros Theodorou said the incident, along with an armed robbery on Monday, were worrying.

Theodorou said that if Michaelides died eventually “it would be the first time a drug addict killed a man in his effort to secure his dose”.

The minister said the perpetrator must be an addict and the incident was very worrying.
“That is why I have instructed the police to move heaven and earth to locate the perpetrator,” Theodorou said.

The minister also expressed concern about Monday’s armed robbery of a co-operative bank in the village of Aredhiou.

One villager was injured after a brief exchange of fire with the robbers who were still at large.
“I am also worried about the robbery in Aredhiou where a gun was used and that rarely happens,” Theodorou said.

He added that there was no room of retreat or sluggishness if the authorities wanted to protect citizens from similar incidents in the future.

The villager was injured after he tried to shoot the tyres of the robbers’ getaway car with a hunting shotgun.

The robbers returned the fire, injuring the man on the leg.

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