Police investigation of Mari blast coming to an end

THE POLICE have amassed over 600 testimonies and will deliver a report to the Attorney-General by the end of the month in relation to the criminal investigation into the deadly July 11 Mari blast, police chief Michalis Papageorgiou said yesterday.

The police will hand over about 31 files to the Attorney-General who can then choose to start criminal proceedings against specific individuals, Papageorgiou added.

The police investigation was carried out at the same time as Polys Polyviou’s public interviews of high profile officials in relation to the political responsibility of the blast events. Thirteen people were killed when confiscated munitions held at the Evangelos Flourakis naval base in Mari, exposed to the elements for over two years, finally exploded.

Polyviou will deliver his report to Cabinet by the end of the month. The Cabinet has promised to make it public. 

Asked to comment on rumours that the police would suggest the criminal prosecution of 15 individuals, Papageorgiou said that their report “would contain suggestions about who bears criminal – not political – responsibility and on what specific offences.” 

Papageorgiou was also asked to comment on a video taken by a police officer showing the blast. 

The video went viral on the internet soon after the explosion. 

Did the police understand the severity of the situation, given the existence of video footage, a journalist asked Papageorgiou. 

Papageorgiou said that the police found out about the video much later after the police member was persuaded to hand it over. 

He was apparently scared to do so because “his assigned duties were different,” Papageorgiou said. 

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