Prisoner escapes police transport at Larnaca District Court and is later recaptured

On October 12, 2026, an 18-year-old remand prisoner escaped from a police transport van outside the Larnaca District Court. The individual, who had been brought to court for a hearing regarding charges of car theft and burglary, managed to flee the vehicle around 12:15 p.m. under circumstances that remain under investigation. While some reports identified the suspect as a Syrian national, other sources specified he is of Palestinian origin.

Following his escape, a major police manhunt was launched across the Larnaca area. Approximately two hours later, at around 2:20 p.m., the 18-year-old was located and arrested by a police bicycle patrol in the city center. The suspect is a known repeat offender who previously served an 18-month prison sentence for a 2024 fatal road accident involving a stolen vehicle.

In response to the security breach, the Chief of Police, Themistos Arnaoutis, has ordered an administrative investigation to determine how the prisoner managed to flee from a secured transport unit. Authorities are currently reviewing the incident to address potential lapses in operational security protocols.