Two 19-year-olds and a 16-year-old were arrested in Larnaca and Limassol as part of intensified police patrols ahead of the Easter holidays on Wednesday night.

According to the police, the two teenagers were part of a group that had lit a fire and were throwing firecrackers.

The group fled when the officers arrived but two 19-year-olds were stopped.

One of teenagers was later found to be in possession of a knife and four cylindrical firecrackers, while the other was found to be in possession of three. Both were arrested and taken into custody for further questioning.

In Limassol, police officers found a group of young people in a church yard. When they approached the group, a 16-year-old allegedly abused the officers and attempted to escape, resulting in his arrest.

In a separate incident in the same area, a fire near a church was extinguished by the fire service.

In Nicosia, police officers responded to two incidents of gatherings of young people who had lit fires and used firecrackers, with the fire service intervening to extinguish the fires.

The police said that increased presence and patrols would continue in all provinces ahead of the Easter holidays and called on the public to act responsibly and cooperate with the competent authorities.