On Friday night, the city of Limassol in Cyprus experienced an anti-immigrant protest that escalated into a violent rampage, leaving several people injured, causing extensive damage to local businesses — including migrant-owned establishments — and resulting in seven arrests. The incident was marked by a shocking failure of the police to maintain control, according to a report by Cyprus Mail.
Initially, the crowd gathered in Molos, a popular waterfront area, chanting nationalist slogans like, ‘Cyprus is Greek’, while men in blacks and balaclavas carrying a banner saying ‘”Refugees” Not Welcome’. The atmosphere quickly deteriorated into chaos. Cars and motorbikes were set on fire, and Molotov cocktails were thrown indiscriminately.
A Syrian man sitting peacefully near the waterfront was violently assaulted by some of the protesters. According to eyewitness accounts, the man was almost thrown into the sea before being beaten. Rioters were yelling, “Throw him in the sea!”, adding to the pandemonium.
In a subsequent effort to restore order, police patrols were increased and random searches conducted, leading to additional arrests and vehicle seizures. The incident follows a week in which 21 individuals were arrested and 16 remanded in custody for similar disturbances.
In response to the violent events, various activist groups including Antifa Nicosia (antifa λευkoşa) and Feminist Group Utopia (Φεμινιστική ομάδα Ευτοπία) organised a counter-protest in Limassol for Saturday night with the aim of standing against the racist pogroms, the attacks against migrants, and the divisive policies that fuel such violence.
