Two men arrested for trespassing at Kalo Chorio firing range

Police in Larnaca arrested two Greek Cypriot men, aged 40 and 56, on October 15 following the conclusion of the 'Iris 2026' National Guard military exercise. The individuals were intercepted inside the Kalo Chorio firing range while driving a truck, where they were found in possession of stolen metal scrap, including shell casings and military equipment belonging to the National Guard.

Following the incident, the two suspects were taken into custody and interrogated. They have been formally charged in writing and released, with the expectation that they will appear before a court at a later date. Authorities emphasize that the suspects were caught in the act while attempting to remove state-owned materials from the restricted site.

In response, the police and the National Guard issued a stern warning to the public, stressing that entering military firing ranges is strictly prohibited both during and after live-fire exercises. They explicitly stated that military gear, shells, and ammunition remain the property of the state and cannot be treated as abandoned goods. This incident occurred against the backdrop of ongoing concerns regarding the security of military sites, as some reports highlighted that the intrusion took place shortly after the loss of 13.6 kilograms of explosives from the same location during earlier exercises.