Motorist attacks police after red light chase

TWO OFFICERS of the Drug Squad Unit (YKAN) were taken to Nicosia General Hospital following an attack by a 26-year-old man from Nicosia yesterday.

At 1.15am, the two YKAN officers were inside their police car at a set of traffic lights in Strovolos when they spotted a car driving through a red light. They asked the driver to stop but he accelerated and tried to get away. According to a police statement, officers finally managed to stop the vehicle in the area of Lakatamia.

When the officers asked the 26-year-old asked him to step out of the car for a search, he started yelling and swearing at them. The man then lunged towards one of the police officers, pushing, and grabbing him by the neck, ripping his vest.

The man was immediately arrested, but as he was being taken to the police station, he again attacked the police officers before being brought under control.

He was charged and released.