反ワクチン派のデモ隊がテレビ局襲撃　キプロス

【ニコシアＡＦＰ＝時事】キプロスの首都ニコシアで１８日夜、新型コロナウイルス対策のワクチンパスポート（接種証明書）導入とワクチン接種推進の動きに抗議するデモ隊がテレビ局を襲撃し、駐車場の車に放火する騒ぎがあった。（写真はキプロスの首都ニコシアで、大統領府の門に殺到する反ワクチン派のデモ隊）
　キプロスでは今週から、ワクチン接種者のみにスーパーマーケットやショッピングモール、レストランなどへの入店を認める「セーフパス」が導入される。また、新規感染者の急増を受けて、政府はワクチン接種対象を１６歳以上に拡大し、若年層への接種推奨の呼び掛けを強めている。
　警察によると、大統領府前で「セーフパス」とワクチンの「強制接種」に反対する大規模デモが行われ、その後、約２５００人がシグマ・テレビ本社に押し寄せた。
　テレビ局関係者がソーシャルメディアに投稿した動画には、警察車両のサイレンが鳴り響く中、駐車場で炎上する車や、備品が破壊された局内のロビーらしき場所が映っている。
　シグマ・テレビはワクチン反対派に厳しい姿勢を取っていることで知られ、新型コロナ対策をめぐるこれまでのデモでもたびたび標的となっていた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/07/20-13:38）

Protesters against coronavirus measures and vaccines attacked a Cypriot television station and torched cars outside the building in Nicosia on Sunday evening, the station said.
Police confirmed the incident at Sigma TV and said around 2,500 protesters went to the network after a larger protest outside the presidential palace against a Covid Safepass and forced vaccinations.
A cowardly attack took place on Sunday night outside our headquarters in the capital Nicosia, Sigma TV said.
Our headquarters was attacked by mobs who threw crackers and damaged our cars.
An AFP reporter saw thousands of people in the area near Sigma TV in the capital Nicosia, carrying placards against the safepass that has come into force earlier this week in the Republic of Cyprus.
Another saw broken glass around the building, several broken windows and four Sigma-branded cars in various states of damage, one completely burned out.
Earlier in the evening around 5,000 people demonstrated outside the presidential palace and at the end of the protest about half of them went to the Sigma television building, police said.
A car at the network was set on fire and there was damage to the building, police said. There were no immdiate reports of arrests or injuries.
In a statement, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades called the violence a blow to democracy and vowed the government would not give in to threats or extortion.
Authorities would come down hard on any lawbreakers, he added.
Sigma said the police had entered the building to protect those working there.
One of its presenters, Nestoras Vasiliou, published a video on social media showing cars burning in the car park and smashed up furniture apparently inside the building's lobby, with police sirens wailing in the background.
Vasiliou also tweeted thank God we are all safe.
Sigma is seen as having a hardline stance against anti-vaccination campaigners and has been targeted in previous protests against anti-coronavirus measures.
An AFP reporter at the scene later on said calm had returned but a group of police officers were guarding the complex.
The Republic of Cyprus this week introduced a safe pass allowing only those vaccinated for Covid to enter supermarkets, malls, restaurants and other businesses.
It has also expanded its Covid vaccination rollout to include teenagers aged 16 and 17, following a new surge in cases, and has stepped up efforts to persuade young people to take the jabs.
Cyprus has recorded over 90,000 cases of coronavirus and 384 deaths.