Investigation continues following the deaths of two children in Xylophagou
Two brothers from Bulgaria, aged 8 and 10, were found dead inside a locked vehicle in Xylophagou on Sunday afternoon. The Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) Police are leading the investigation and have scheduled the 30-year-old father to appear before the Dhekelia Court on July 2 at 12:00. The children’s 38-year-old stepmother, who owns the vehicle, was released unconditionally. Preliminary reports suggest the children may have entered the car through a faulty rear door and became trapped after the child safety locks engaged. Investigators are considering asphyxiation as the primary cause of death, pending final histopathological results from autopsies conducted by pathologist Manolis Sakelliades. CCTV footage shows the children playing near the vehicle before the incident occurred. The Republic of Cyprus has committed to covering the costs of repatriating the bodies to Bulgaria. Police continue to examine whether the father was at work during the incident, while he maintains his claim of absence.