Police said on Thursday that they are closely investigating the recent surge in attacks on mostly third country delivery drivers.
“These victims are hardworking individuals in Cyprus, simply trying to earn a living. This situation cannot continue. The police are taking measures,” Limassol police spokesperson Lefteris Kyriacou told state broadcaster CyBC.
Kyriacou said that since the beginning of September, ten suspects have been arrested in connection with various attacks on delivery workers, including incidents involving robbery, assault and racially motivated violence.
He added that many of the attacks appear to be racially motivated, a claim corroborated by several victims in recent weeks. Police are focusing on groups of young people, many between the ages of 16 and 22, as the likely perpetrators.
The latest two incidents took place on Tuesday night in Limassol. In the first, a delivery driver was assaulted by a group of ten people in Yermasoyia, who stole cash and his helmet after beating him and using racial slurs. Later, a 27-year-old driver was attacked by three individuals on a motorcycle in Ayios Tychonas, where he was beaten and had two mobile phones stolen.
Kyriacou stressed that most of these cases have been solved, and investigations are ongoing.
“Many of the suspects are young people, and the police are conducting patrols in areas where they gather,” he said, adding that the crimes carry severe penalties.
He also urged the public to provide any information that could assist in the investigations and called on parents to pay attention to these serious cases.
He did not rule out the possibility of copycat behaviour, saying “groups of young people gathering in parks or other areas could be imitating these attacks”.
The rise in attacks have caused increasing alarm, with over 300 delivery drivers protesting in Limassol two months ago, expressing concerns over the growing violence and calling for more protection.
