POLICE ARE looking into the attempted murder of a 40-year-old man from Peristerona, who was yesterday in a critical condition after being shot twice in the chin.
Police believe a car found burning near the scene of the crime is connected to the case.
According to Larnaca Police Spokesman, Christos Andreou, authorities received a call late on Wednesday night from a home owner in Aradippou saying the bleeding 39-year-old had knocked on his door asking for help.
He added, “The 40-year-old was taken by ambulance to Larnaca General Hospital, where it was found that he had sustained two injuries from a gun under his chin. His condition is considered critical.”
Police investigations showed that the shooting had taken place around 200 metres from the home where the victim was found.
“It seems the victim walked to the home bleeding, requesting help from the owner. At around 4am, police spotted a car that was on fire, just a short way away from the scene of the attempted murder.”
The car was completely destroyed in the fire, which police determined had been set on purpose.
“We think that the specific vehicle is related to the murder attempt,” said Andreou.
The police are now investigating the reasons behind the attempted murder, “investigating all possibilities as nothing is known about the motives behind the attempt and those responsible for it”.
The victim has regularly been in trouble with the police in the past, said Andreou.
According to sources, the victim’s car was found at Larnaca Hospital, where he apparently arranged to meet his attackers to resolve a quarrel over money.
They picked him up and drove him to where the burning car was later found and shot him. Reports say they then burned the car.
Doctors yesterday said the 40-year-old was in a critical condition, with the head of Larnaca Hospital’s Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, Dr Emilios Kallias saying that the victim would soon be transferred to Nicosia General Hospital for more specialised tests.
“From the two bullets, one came out of [the victim’s] nose, while the second became lodged in his spine just below the throat,” said Kallias, adding the 40-year-old would be operated on, depending on the result of the specialised tests.
