1 April attacks (Cyprus)

1 April Attacks Part of the Cyprus Emergency Date 1 April 1955 Location Nicosia, Famagusta, Cyprus Result destruction of British facilities across the country Belligerents  United Kingdom EOKA Commanders and leaders Governor Sir Robert Armitage Markos Drakos Grigoris Afxentiou Archbishop Makarios Casualties and losses 1 killed

Cyprus Emergency 1 April Attacks (April 1955) Nicosia Cinema Bombing (May 1955) Police Station Attacks (June 1955) Kyrenia Castle Escape (Sept 1955) Battle of Famagusta (Nov 1955) Battle of the Pine (Nov 1955) Battle of Spilia (Dec 1955) Battle of Yialousa Battle at Nicosia Hospital (Aug 1956) Operation Lucky Alphonse (June 1956) Lepka Raid (April 1957) Battle of Lioepetri (Sept 1958)

The 1 April Attacks were a series of attacks across Cyprus in 1955 by the EOKA which led to the start of the Cyprus Emergency.^[1] Multiple British locations were attacked after midnight by EOKA members. This attack was accompanied by the distribution of leaflets across Cyprus.

Attack

On the night of 31 March–1 April 1955, simultaneous attacks were launched across the island after midnight at various British or British-linked facilities, including:

• in Nicosia, the government radio station, the Secretariat, the Education Office and the installations behind Wolseley barracks (this attack was led by Markos Drakos);
• in Larnaca, the central police station, the district administration, the court building, the police superintendent's home, Commissioner Muftizade's home;
• in Limassol, the central police station, the police station of Ayios Ioannis quarter, the Episkopi garrison; in Limassol district also sustained heavy damage by the explosions.
• in Famagusta district, the depot of the army camp near the Famagusta-Larnaca road, the fuel tank of the Dhekelia garrison power station. (The latter attack was led by Grigoris Afxentiou).

During this attack, Modestos Panteli of the EOKA died from electric shock trying to cut a cable, the first casualty of the Emergency. The attacks were accompanied by the distribution of leaflets from EOKA claiming responsibility and calling on Cypriots to participate in the struggle. Several EOKA officers were arrested in connection to the attacks and sentenced to long prison terms.^[2]

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