INVESTIGATIONS continued yesterday into vandalism at the Ayios Nikolas cemetery in Limassol where 70 graves, including that of former President Spyros Kyprianou, had Greek and Cypriot flags removed.
The vandalism took place on Sunday only days after the Greek flag was removed from the empty grave of former President and DIKO leader Tassos Papadopoulos whose remains were stolen from the Deftera cemetery outside Nicosia in mid-December, and which are still missing.
Police yesterday confirmed that Sunday’s incident in Limassol where flags and candles were removed from graves, including that of Kyprianou – also a former President and DIKO leader – was not connected to the recent flag-removal at the Papadopoulos site.
Neither was it being linked to the theft of Papadopoulos’ remains, they said.
“The vandalism at Ayios Nikolaos cemetery is not connected to the vandalism at Deftera cemetery. At Ayios Nikolaos a group of people with childish and sick minds wanted to commit this act without any motive or cause,” police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said yesterday.
Police confirmed that a total of 25 Cyprus and Greek flags were removed from poles at graves, thrown in the cemetery fountain and set on fire. In addition, 70 grave candles were removed from graves.
Eye witnesses have reported that a group of teenagers were loitering around the area, hours before the vandalism was discovered on Sunday afternoon.
The youths’ description has been given to police, who are now looking for suspects at schools and hang-out areas.
A total of ten teenagers were yesterday called in for questioning by police, but investigators have not confirmed whether evidence against any specific person has been collected.
Ayios Nikolaos cemetery was placed under surveillance throughout Sunday night until Monday morning when site investigations were completed.
Limassol police confirmed that guards had not been placed at the grave of Spyros Kyprianou, but that frequent police patrols would continue. In addition to patrolling the cemetery, police officers will also be checking the site where EOKA leader Georgios Grivas Dighenis is buried in Limassol, as well as other monuments that may be targeted by vandals.
