47-year-old detained, charged with homicide over child’s death
A 47-year-old man from Syria has been detained on suspicion of homicide and human trafficking. The man is accused of killing a three-year-old girl who died at Makarios Hospital and of being involved in the trafficking of migrants found on a boat off Cape Greco. The sister of the deceased girl and another child are in critical condition at Makarios Hospital, while three more children are in serious condition at Famagusta Hospital and another child is being treated at Larnaca Hospital. Four adults with leg fractures are also receiving medical care. The man had previously applied for political asylum in Cyprus but later traveled to Lebanon. The boat carrying the migrants started its journey on January 18 without proper navigation tools and with insufficient fuel. The engine failed midway through the journey, leaving the boat adrift. The migrants had water but no food and were instructed to throw the water into the sea when they saw a commercial vessel approaching, which they believed was a Cypriot police vessel. The boat was reported missing on January 20, and search operations have been conducted but the boat has not been found.