Nine youths remanded over Yermasoyia gang wars

NINE YOUTHS from Limassol, aged between 14 and 29, are on remand in connection with a violent clash between two rival gangs that took place at Yermasoyia tourist area on Sunday, police said.

On Monday morning police had tracked down and arrested six of the nine youths aged between 19 and 29 who were identified as being involved in the violence,

By the afternoon of the same day three more suspects aged 14, 17 and 18 were tracked down. The suspects appeared before Limassol District Court yesterday, where a five-day remand was issued.

The suspects are reportedly members of both the Ayios Nicolaos and Polemidia gangs that clashed violently at Yermasoyia on Sunday. Police believe that the brawl was an organised clash between the two rival gangs who intended to face off on Saturday night.

According to police at 4.15am on Sunday police officers patrolling the area noticed that a fist-fight between approximately 50 people had broken out outside a Yermasoyia club. The officers asked for re-enforcements and intervened to stop the fight, a move that aggravated the youths.

As a result one youth who had tear gas in his possession started using it against police officers, while an additional 100 youths ran to the scene.

The youths used stones, sticks and metal clubs against each other and four youths were wounded as a result. At some point the brawl moved to the area directly outside Yermasoyia Police station and ten youths entered the police station where they ran amok by shouting and threatening police.

Some of the injured youths were taken to Limassol General Hospital, while others to a private clinic in Limassol. Meanwhile, police announced that patrols at Yermasoyia tourist area had intensified in a bid to control juvenile delinquency and bar violence in the area.

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