Remand prisoner escapes from police transport at Larnaca District Court

An 18-year-old Syrian remand prisoner escaped from a police transport van outside the Larnaca District Court on the morning of October 12, 2026. The teenager, who was being held in connection with theft and burglary cases, had been transported from the Aradippou police station for a court hearing. Shortly after the proceedings concluded around 12:15 PM, he managed to exit the van and flee into the city.

Following a two-hour search, the escapee was apprehended by police officers on bicycles in central Larnaca, reportedly after he was found hiding in an abandoned building. Preliminary investigations and CCTV footage suggest significant security failures, as the van door was allegedly left open, the suspect was not handcuffed, and no officers were present at the scene during the escape.

Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis has ordered a formal administrative investigation into the operational protocols and lapses that allowed the escape to occur. The suspect is considered high-risk due to his prior criminal record, which includes an 18-month prison sentence related to a fatal 2024 vehicle collision involving a stolen car.