Soldier’s death leads to call for better security measures

FAMILY, FRIENDS and state officials yesterday crowded the Holy Temple of Ayios Kyprianou in Meniko to say their final goodbyes to National Guard officer Charalambos Charalambous.

The 29-year-old army lieutenant was killed on Thursday after his rifle-grenade exploded in a Nicosia armoury near Paphos Gate. He leaves behind a new wife, whom he married last May.

NG and police officers yesterday continued to investigate the scene to determine the reasons behind the tragedy.

A post-mortem by State Pathologist Sophocles Sophocleous showed the soldier was killed by multiple injuries to the arms and chest area.

The incident took place during a stocktake of munitions at the army barracks next to the CyTA building on Museum Street in Nicosia.

Charalambous was going through the stockpile in preparation of the handing over of command of the company when the explosion occurred.

Meanwhile, Parliament plans to carry out an in-depth investigation into the National Guard’s safety and security systems for staff and equipment.

The Chairman of the House Defence Committee, Yiannakis Omirou of EDEK, yesterday suggested the creation of an army supervisor.

“One suggestion is to introduce the institution of army supervisors, who will be specifically in charge of security matters,” said Omirou. “He would need to be a superior officer, who will have the authority and right to visit NG areas, establishments; to communicate with the staff, to check the materials.”

He added that the storage of military equipment needed to be looked into. “Is it right to have equipment stored in an urban area? We need to take added security measures or to prepare an institutional security programme, both for the staff and the equipment.”

Omirou referred to information he had received that NG soldiers were no longer trained to use rifle grenades. “But it is too early to comment on this,” he added.