Greek Cypriot Police Fear Of Arson And Bomb Attacks Against Mosques In South Cyprus

LEFKOSHA (CIHAN) - Greek Cypriot police put on red alert against the possible attacks against the mosques in Greek-controlled side of island following the bomb blast at Saint Mamas' Church at Güzelyurt (Morphou) in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC).
Greek Cypriot police fears that the racist and zealous Greek Cypriots could carry out bombing or arson against mosques in Greek Cypriot side as retaliation attack. Greek Cypriot police stepped up measures around mosques.
Bombs and Molotov Cocktails were thrown at Saint Mamas' Church at Güzelyurt (Morphou) in KKTC on Friday.
Bombs and Molotov Cocktails damaged the entrance, roof and windows of Saint Mamas' Church where Greek Cypriots were to hold a ceremony on September 1-2 for the first time in 30 years. The last ceremony by Greek Orthodox Cypriots was held at Saint Mamas' Church in 1974.
However, the blast did not discouraged Greek Cypriots from holding a mass at Saint Mamas Church. Greek Cypriot had decided to annul mass but later, Greek Cypriots changed their mind and decided to hold a ceremony. Omorfo City representatives and Mayor Haralambos Bittas called on Greek Cypriots to attend the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot Justice and Public Order Minister Doros Theodoru refrained from issuing any advice to the Greek Cypriots in regard to passing to Turkish side to attend the ceremony or not.
Cyprus was rocked by intercommunal violence in the 1960s and was split into two when Turkish troops landed in northern Cyprus in 1974 in order to protect Turkish Cypriots, following a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece.