Kalo Chorio, Cyprus. Political fallout intensified after 13.6 kilograms of TNT went missing from a national guard firing range during a military exercise, prompting Akel to call the incident extremely serious and demand immediate explanations.
Akel raises public safety concerns
In a statement issued on Saturday, Akel said the loss of a large quantity of explosives during a military exercise raises grave concerns, warning that the possibility the material was stolen and ended up in criminal hands represents an extremely dangerous scenario. The party said serious questions arise over the security measures in place and the controls applied during the exercise, stressing that issues of public safety cannot be left unanswered. It urged authorities to accelerate investigations to locate the missing explosives and clarify how they disappeared.
Defence ministry confirms explosives missing
The defence ministry confirmed on Friday that the TNT went missing during an engineer training exercise at the Kalo Chorio firing range in the Larnaca district. According to officials, the explosives were placed at the site for a scheduled controlled detonation at around 2pm on Thursday, but the blast failed to occur.
Safety procedures and search efforts
Officials said that, following standard safety procedures, personnel waited for one hour before approaching the area, and when they did, the explosives were no longer present. The missing material consists of two explosive devices used for missile destruction, containing a total of 13.6 kilograms of TNT. Defence ministry spokesperson Christos Pieris said the police and security services were informed immediately, the area was sealed off, and joint investigations began.
What steps should authorities take to address public safety concerns after the disappearance of military explosives?