Two remanded for rocket attack on ‘Alexoui’

By Staff Reporter

THE Nicosia district court on Thursday remanded two men in custody for eight days in connection with the murder of a 28-year-old man during an attack with an anti-tank rocket on Tuesday night.

The pair, aged 30 and 38, are suspected of killing father of two Stefanos Papadopoulos, 28, who worked as a security guard for Alexis Mavromichalis, aka ‘Alexoui’, who it is believed was the target.

Mavromichalis escaped unscathed.

Police were led to the arrests after the discovery of the car that was used in the attack, later found torched in Ergates, outside Nicosia.

One of the suspects, the 30-year-old, is currently doing prison time for drugs-related offenses.

The court heard that the other suspect was recently beat up by friends of Mavromichalis.

Police said the suspects are refusing to co-operate.

The lengthy hearing was held amid draconian security measures. Mavromichalis was also at the courthouse.

The attack took place at 7.45pm on Tuesday, while Mavromichalis was in his house with his wife and a friend.

Papadopoulos was inside a car parked outside the house in the Nicosia suburb of Strovolos. The perpetrators fired an anti-tank rocket from what is believed to be a portable one-shot LAW,  and a round of bullets at the car.

The attack left Papadopoulos seriously injured – he succumbed shortly after being rushed to the hospital – and everyone inside the house unharmed.

Mavromichalis had been known to the police for some time for his alleged involvement in several cases, including the high-profile murder of Dias media group CEO Andis Hadjicostis.

Commenting on the crime, Justice minister Ionas Nicolaou told the state broadcaster that authorities will investigate the case “thoroughly.”