Police investigations are continuing intensively on Friday to locate 42-year-old convicted double-murderer Theodoros Theofanous.

According to police spokesman Christos Andreou, the possibility that Theofanous aimed to cross to the north, or had already crossed, is being pursued and an Interpol notice has been issued. Crossing point as well as the British bases police have also been informed.

Limassol police have also been placed on high alert, state broadcaster CyBC reported.

The convict had been held in the central prisons and escaped on Thursday during a scheduled leave to his relatives, around noon.

Two people have been arrested, a 68-year-old man reported to be the killer’s father, and a 43-year-old third country national, after police secured testimony against them, suspected of having aided in a preplanned escape. They are being investigated on charges of conspiracy and having committed the felony of assisting the escape of a prisoner.

The manhunt has mobilised a large cross section of the police force, with the participation of a helicopter, sniffer dogs, and drone units, Andreou said.

The circumstances under which the 42-year-old escaped are being investigated with reports stating that handcuff protocols, which permit for their removal only during meal times, had not been adhered to.

The convict had received permission to visit his father’s home in Choletria in Paphos, under the escort of seven police staff members, four prison guards and three officers from the police’s mobile immediate action unit (Mmad).

The residence is located in a remote and hard-to-access area, Cyprus Times reported. It is as yet unclear if Theofanous exited from the yard or from a window, however, at some point during his visit the lifer managed to escape from under the watch of the seven police officers.

The three Mmad members have since been suspended over the case, while the four prison guards are also expected to be suspended.

Police cars stationed outside Thefanou’s house

Police protocols dictate that the four guards were supposed to remain stationed inside the house and no further than within the limits of its yard, Andreou said, while the Mmad officers are stationed outside the fence.

The escape sparked questions as the to manner in which leave was granted in the first place. Article 16 of the Prisons Law, allows life prisoners who have served at least ten years to request escorted leave for family reasons or to strengthen social bonds, according to a Philenews report.

Over the past four years, the convict had been granted leave to visit his parents, approximately once every three months.

The decision to grant leave is made by committee, which includes prison officials, teachers, social workers, and psychologists. The committee is responsible for evaluating prisoners and determining appropriate security measures.

Cyprus’ prison regulations allow for discretion in the use of restraints during transfers, based on the prisoner’s assessed escape risk, character, and behaviour. Sources with knowledge of relevant procedures stated that as a security precaution, prisoners are normally only informed of leave a few hours prior.

Theofanous, a hairdresser, was convicted 13 years ago of the double murder of his partner Yulia Oporok and her three-year-old child, while the victim was four months pregnant at the time. He received 24 and 35-year consecutive sentences for the crimes.

Oporok’s body was found in her car near the Yeroskipou coastal area with gunshot wounds to her chest and abdomen. The body of her three-year-old daughter was discovered 50 metres away with the autopsy revealing Theofanous had suffocated the child.

During his trial, it emerged that Theofanous had confessed the crime to a fellow inmate who testified in court and whose testimony was deemed credible.

Police have issued a call for any information that can help locate Theofanous. Pictures of the wanted man can be found here on the police website.

Anyone who knows anything that can help locate him, is asked to contact the Paphos Municipality at number 26806021, the citizen’s contact line at telephone number 1460, or the nearest police station.