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Two years after the explosion of an arms depot that killed 13 and injured dozens on July 11, 2011, former defence minister Costas Papacostas was found guilty of manslaughter by a court in Larnaca. Several emergency services managers were also found guilty of negligence.
The weapons that exploded were in a consignment destined for Syria seized by Cypriot authorities in 2009, and stored without safety provisions at a naval base. The blast caused by a brush fire also destroyed the island’s main power station, causing an economic slowdown and a loss to the economy estimated at €2.4bn.
On the occasion of the anniversary of the accident, “President Nikos Anastasiadis apologised on behalf of the state, and acknowledged the role played by political decisions and omissions which led to the death of the 13 heroes of Mari,” reports Politis.
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