Police searching for fan who targeted officers during Monday football violence

POLICE yesterday said they were searching for a fan who had thrown what is believed to be firecrackers against members of the force during violence arising from Monday night’s Apollon-AEK football match in Limassol.

In a written statement yesterday, police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said three minutes before the final whistle, Apollon fans threw three explosives onto the pitch, with the resulting deafening blast injuring a sergeant and a constable who were on duty in front of the Apollon stands.

After immediate transfer to a private clinic, the two officers were treated for ear wounds. Further tests yesterday showed the constable had suffered sudden hearing loss and a perforated inner-ear membrane, while the sergeant had sustained partial hearing loss in the higher pitch range.

“Such reckless, unacceptable and reprehensible acts endanger the physical wellbeing of members of the police force, but also subsequently the lives of people in sports arenas,” said Katsounotos in the statement.

The explosive material thrown is thought to have been directed specifically at police officers, and the statement made clear the force would undertake all necessary investigations to identify who was responsible for such action.

“This incident will not be treated lightly and Police Chief Michalis Papageorgiou has given clear orders for complete investigation and detection of the culprits,” said Katsounotos.   

This is the second incident of fan violence in three days, following the hurling of flares and firecrackers by AEL fans against Omonia’s supporters during the two teams’ Saturday clash. An AEL fan also lost three fingers when a firecracker exploded in his hands.

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