Nicosia police have launched a murder investigation after 23-year-old Tasos Georgiou was shot to death in the early morning hours of December 28th. The victim was found in the entrance to an apartment building near Strovolos high school, and police were alerted after gunshots were heard at around 4am.

An ambulance was called but Georgiou died en route to the hospital, suffering from at least 10 gunshot wounds.

There’s speculation the killing was gang-related, and connected with a car explosion in Lakatamia a few hours earlier - a car that was driven by Georgiou.

The victim of the shooting was a bodyguard who worked at a Nicosia nightclub and was reportedly a member of one of several criminal gangs that run the prostitution and drugs trades.

At the time of writing, police have not yet located any suspects.

The gun found next to Georgiou’s body has been examined by the investigators, who say there is no traceable history from past crimes linked to the weapon.