Police are investigating a suspected arson attack after a fire caused extensive damage at a vehicle sales business in Paphos.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of Saturday at an outdoor vehicle showroom on Mesogis Avenue. Police say the fire was started deliberately.
According to the Assistant Police Director for Operations in Paphos, Michalis Nicolaou, the Paphos Criminal Investigation Department is investigating offences including conspiracy to commit a felony, burglary and arson involving a building and motor vehicles.
Initial examinations by police, carried out in cooperation with the Fire Service, confirmed that the fire was the result of a malicious act.
Nicolaou said police received a report at around 2.45am that a fire had broken out at a vehicle sales premises owned by a 59-year-old man.
Fire Service crews were sent to the scene and managed to put out the fire. However, by the time it was extinguished, significant damage had already been caused.
Eight cars were completely destroyed. Eleven motorcycles were also burned, along with three electric golf-type vehicles and one jet ski. The building housing the business suffered extensive damage, as did equipment that was on display at the premises.
The area remains cordoned off to allow further forensic and technical examinations to take place.
Police investigations are continuing as efforts focus on identifying and locating those responsible.