Status: 07/19/2021 7:47 a.m.
Protests against the planned Corona “Safepass” in Cyprus have led to riots. Protesters attacked the building of a local television station that has repeatedly reported critical of anti-vaccination agents.
Participants in a demonstration against corona measures and vaccinations attacked the headquarters of a television station in Cyprus and set several vehicles on fire. According to the police, around 2,500 demonstrators moved on to the headquarters of Sigma TV yesterday evening after a protest. There they set cars on fire and damaged the building. An AFP reporter on site reported four damaged vehicles with the station’s logo, one of which was completely burned out. Several window panes on the transmitter seat were broken.
According to Sigma TV, police officers were protecting employees in the building. There were initially no reports of arrests or injuries. Those in charge of the station condemned the action as a “cowardly attack”. “Our headquarters were attacked by a mob who threw firecrackers and damaged our cars,” said the broadcaster.
Several thousand people in Cyprus protested against the introduction of the so-called “Safepass” and against alleged compulsory vaccinations.
Image: AFP
President threatens tough action
President Nicos Anastasiades also criticized the violence as a “blow to democracy”. The government will “not give in to threats and blackmail,” he said. The authorities would also “crack down on” all violations of the law.
The situation calmed down later that evening, according to AFP reports. However, several police officers continued to guard the building complex. Sigma is considered to be critical of opponents of vaccination and had already been attacked in the past at demos against corona requirements.
Cyprus again high incidence area
The Cypriot government had introduced a special corona vaccination card, the so-called “Safepass”, earlier this week. Since then, this has been a prerequisite for entering supermarkets, shopping centers, restaurants and other shops. The corona vaccinations were also extended to the 16- and 17-year-olds. The number of infections in the Mediterranean country had recently increased.
Since yesterday it has been classified as a high incidence area by the Robert Koch Institute. Due to the classification, Cyprus holidaymakers have to go into a ten-day quarantine after their return, which they can end prematurely after five days with a negative corona test.