Man arrested for attempted murder at Nicosia hospital

A 29-year-old man wanted in connection with an attempted murder case was located and arrested by police on Monday afternoon under a court warrant.

The incident occurred on Saturday at the accidents and emergency department of Nicosia general hospital, when a patient tried to stab someone and then punched a doctor and two nurses.

In response to it, nurses on Monday staged a two-hour work stoppage outside the hospital, while a meeting was held on the issue at the Presidential Palace to discuss the matter.

In an official statement, the nurses’ union Pasyno expressed its concern that although hospital safety issues have been highlighted for over ten years (since 2013), measures taken have not adequately addressed the situation.

“The state needs to comprehensively take on [international regulations] for the prevention and handling of such incidents [of violence], including employers legally mandated responsibilities,” the union said.

The man is being investigated for several offences, including attempted murder, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, threats, assault causing actual bodily harm, possession and use of an offensive weapon, common assault, and carrying a knife.