Two serious incidents kept Limassol CID investigators busy on Thursday, with police searching for a total of six suspects in separate cases involving an armed robbery and a serious assault.
Couple tied up during armed robbery
The first incident concerns an armed robbery at a home in the Sfalaggiotissa area of Limassol.
According to police, five masked men entered the residence at around 3am after exploiting a window that, although closed, had not been secured.
Inside the house were a 43-year-old man and his 36-year-old wife, who were asleep at the time.
Armed with knives and a pistol, the intruders entered the couple's bedroom, restrained the man and bound him with adhesive tape.
They then threatened the woman and forced her to open a safe located in the room.
The suspects allegedly stole around €5,000 in cash and luxury jewellery whose value had not been fully determined by Thursday but is believed to exceed €200,000.
Before leaving, the robbers also tied up the woman with tape, leaving both occupants immobilised.
The couple later managed to free themselves and contacted police at around 7am.
Limassol CID officers examined the scene and collected evidence.
Investigators are also reviewing CCTV footage from the wider area in an effort to trace the suspects' movements before and after the robbery.
Police said certain indications have emerged regarding the nationality and characteristics of the five suspects, though no further details have been released as inquiries continue.
Construction worker seriously injured in stabbing
A second serious incident occurred just hours later at a construction site in Mouttagiaka.
At around 7.50am, two workers aged 44 and 47 became involved in a heated argument that escalated into violence.
According to Limassol CID chief Costas Michael, the two men are of the same nationality and worked at the same construction site.
For reasons that remain unclear, the 47-year-old allegedly pulled out a sharp construction tool and stabbed his colleague in the abdomen.
Police said the weapon used was a drywall cutter, which was later recovered by investigators.
The injured 44-year-old was taken to hospital by ambulance and underwent surgery.
His condition was described as serious but stable.
The suspected attacker, a 47-year-old Georgian national, fled the scene on foot before police arrived.
His details have been released as part of efforts to locate him.
Investigators consider the testimony of a witness who was present at the construction site at the time of the incident to be particularly important.
Police are examining both the circumstances that led to the altercation and whether there had been any previous disputes between the two workers.
