The two 32-year-old French nationals, who are members of the international environmental organization Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS), were injured by pellets from a hunting rifle while they were in a designated hunting area at Cape Greco in the Famagusta district. A 35-year-old hunter was arrested in connection with the incident; it appears he fired the shot.
According to the police, the incident occurred around 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, when members of the Game Warden Service and three other individuals, aged 31, 32, and 32, were in the area. Under circumstances that are under investigation, the two 32-year-olds were struck by pellets from a hunting firearm. The two injured individuals were taken to Famagusta General Hospital, where it was determined that one had a graze wound to the head, while the other had a superficial wound to the right shoulder.
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SEE ALSO: Two injured after shooting in the Famagusta district; 35-year-old hunter in handcuffs
See photo of one of the injured:
According to the Police Public Information Office, investigations indicate that the shot was fired by a 35-year-old hunter. Members of the Famagusta Criminal Investigation Department and the Criminal Investigation Service of Police Headquarters conducted an investigation at the scene, where various pieces of evidence were collected.
As part of the investigation, a court arrest warrant was issued against the 35-year-old, who was arrested shortly before 8:00 p.m. that same day by members of the Famagusta Criminal Investigation Unit and taken into custody for police questioning.
See photo of the injured person:
What Terra Cypria Claims
In a statement, the organization Terra Cypria claims that, prior to this incident, CABS members had filed a complaint regarding the use of a prohibited method for capturing wild birds—specifically, an electronic bird-call device that emits the songs of wild birds— in a permitted area and during the permitted hunting season.
A patrol from the Game and Wildlife Service, consisting of two game wardens, went to the area and, following a report of the offense by three CABS members, located and confiscated the electronic bird-call device and issued an out-of-court fine to the offending hunter.
Subsequently, as the gamekeepers and CABS members were returning to their vehicles, they passed in front of another hunter, who was sitting in a chair. After greeting him, they continued walking toward their vehicles. At that moment, the alleged perpetrator stood up from the chair he was sitting in, began to follow the gamekeepers and CABS members, and fired a shot in the direction they were walking.
“As we were returning to our cars, we came across another hunter sitting in a chair nearby and said good morning to him. He responded with a gesture and then fired a shot, injuring our volunteers,” said Axel Hirschfeld, a CABS spokesperson.
See photo of an injured person:
Terra Cypria publicly condemns the above incident and states clearly and unequivocally that the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus must show zero tolerance toward anycrime against wildlife and any attack against environmental defenders.
Therefore, Terra Cypria calls on the Cyprus Police and the Ministry of Justice and Public Order to ensure a prompt and thorough investigation of this specific case and, above all, to ensure that justice is servedfor the offenses of firing a gunshot and causing injury to CABS members, since, as is evident from the facts of the case as outlined above, these offenses were committed intentionally.
