14 pupils face prosecution over school brawl

FOURTEEN students from two Nicosia secondary school involved in a thwarted brawl with pupils of another school have been arrested and will face prosecution.
Justice Minister Sophocles Sophocleous has said the police will not tolerate their behaviour, adding that he is considering introducing police patrols around various schools.

On Tuesday, a gang of 20 pupils from two Nicosia schools attempted to enter Latsia’s lyceum to assault other students after the three schools were involved in a similar fracas last week that left three Latsia pupils slightly injured.

A fight was averted at the last minute following a tip-off to police.

On November 22, Greek Cypriots from surrounding state schools broke into the English School and attacked Turkish Cypriot students, and there were two further incidents between rival schools, in Larnaca and Latsia, last week.

“Some of these youngsters seem to want to be the centre of public attention but their behaviour is nothing short of delinquency,” the Minister said. “To those that are attempting to sweep these incidents under the carpet, we will close our ears and eyes to them.”

He added that all the details were currently with the Attorney-general and emphasised that the police will act against anybody who doesn’t obey the law.

“The best way to prevent this type of conduct is through parents, who are there to provide a solution.”

Sophocleous also stated that the state must take more steps in the area of prevention and “collaborate with everybody involved to tackle the phenomenon of this unacceptable behaviour.”

Speaking after Tuesday’s incident, Nicosia deputy police chief Kypros Michaelides said police were in constant communication with schools.

“We are looking to find ways to deal with the students and to get the message across that they mustn’t resort to this sort of action, which will be put on record and blacken their name for their entire lives,” he said.

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