Greek Cypriot police under investigation over shot that killed a Pakistani migrant

A 24-year-old Pakistani man who was found dead in a car park in Nicosia south Cyprus was allegedly shot by a police officer during an incident in the buffer zone between the north and south of Cyprus on January 6.

The revelation was made known on Saturday January 11, after an autopsy revealed a 9mm bullet in his body. 

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has confirmed that the man’s death is linked to shots fired by anti-poaching police unit officers during an encounter in Potamia’s buffer zone while attempting to stop and arrest suspects.

The incident occurred on January 6 when members of the Anti-Poaching Unit were conducting a motorised patrol in the Potamia area and spotted three vehicles moving through the buffer zone.

When officers attempted to stop the vehicles, one driver accelerated towards a police officer who had exited the patrol car. The officer fired at the vehicle’s tyres, but the driver, along with a second vehicle, managed to escape into the buffer zone.

The third vehicle also accelerated towards the police officer after being signalled to stop. The officer managed to re-enter the patrol vehicle before the suspect’s car collided with its front. Officers fired at this vehicle’s tyres, but the driver also escaped into the buffer zone.

The victim’s body was discovered by a civilian at around 9:15 pm in an open parking area on Calypso Street in Strovolos about an hour after the buffer zone incident occurred at 8:00 pm on January 6.

A medical examiner who conducted the initial autopsy ruled out foul play at the scene where the 24-year-old Pakistani man was found. However, four days later, during a post-mortem examination, a 9mm bullet was discovered in the deceased’s body, with an entry wound on the right side of his back.

Investigators also discovered a suitcase containing numerous documents relating to foreign nationals during the death investigation.

The documents are being evaluated by the Nicosia Criminal Investigation Department, with authorities investigating potential links to organised illegal immigration networks.

Police seized firearms from the officers involved in the buffer zone incident, where shots were fired at the tyres of three vehicles that were reportedly driving towards police officers.