A 40-year-old man with a criminal history was murdered in the bi-communal village of Pyla at 8:45 pm on February 1st, said authorities. George Georgiou, aka Chiquito, was killed in a hail of bullets fired by a sniper standing on a small hill 130 metres away from his house. After killing George Georgiou, the unknown suspect then escaped by car.

The victim had just been dropped off outside his house and was about to go inside. The sniper shot him in the back of the right shoulder, spinning him around and then shot him in the chest; the fatal injury. His father and friend, who were close to the murder scene, were not injured.

Village residents now fear that a gang war will start up after what looks like a professional gang hit.

Police have started searching for the suspects, and forensic evidence is being gathered.

Because of the location of the murder, the UN is also involved, and has helped to close off the murder scene around the victim’s house.

Pyla is one of four villages located within the UN buffer zone, along with Athienou, Troulloi and Deneia. It’s famous for being an example of Greek-and-Turkish Cypriots living in peace.

It’s also notorious for the number of gambling dens and underground casinos that operate in the area. They are run by criminal gangs who have little to fear from the authorities.