Attack on Israeli citizens in Nicosia: police investigate antisemitic motive

In central Nicosia, three Israeli citizens were attacked with a sharp object. As a result of the incident, one person was injured. The authorities and security forces are expressing serious concern over the growing risks to public safety on the island.
In a swift response, local police carried out a special operation and detained two suspects, who turned out to be Syrian citizens. Israel’s ambassador to Cyprus, Oren Anolik, strongly condemned the attack, saying the victims were targeted solely because of their recognizable Jewish appearance. The diplomat thanked law enforcement for their quick response, called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, and noted the unusual rise in antisemitic incidents in Cyprus, which requires a firm response from the country’s leaders.
This incident took place against the backdrop of other high-profile events: shortly before that, in Larnaca, security services detained two suspects (reportedly of Palestinian origin) and found components for the production of explosives, preventing possible attacks on Israeli and Jewish sites. Cyprus police are operating at heightened readiness in close cooperation with international agencies to ensure safety on the island.