{"id":13692,"date":"2026-03-11T22:20:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T22:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anatolikilemesou.com\/?p=13692"},"modified":"2026-03-11T22:27:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T22:27:46","slug":"president-makarios-assassination-attempts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anatolikilemesou.com\/?p=13692","title":{"rendered":"President Makarios Assassination Attempts"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Four Assassination Attempts Survived<\/h1>

President Makarios III, survived four assassination attempts during his three terms in office from 1959 to 1977. These attacks came from various opponents, including former allies who opposed his shift away from the goal of enosis (union with Greece).<\/p>

\u00a0First Assassination Attempt: The March 8, 1970 Helicopter Attack<\/h1>

On March 8, 1970, gunmen opened fire on President Makarios’ helicopter as it took off from the Archbishopric in Nicosia. The attackers fired six shots from a machine gun, hitting the helicopter as it departed for Makhaeras Monastery. Three bullets struck the aircraft, causing it to lose height steadily. Immediately after the attack, Makarios ordered the arrest of his former Interior Minister, Polykarpos Georkatzis, and several others. Makarios stated he had “strong reason to believe that his former minister was behind the attempt”.<\/p>

Makarios Survives Unharmed<\/h1>

President Makarios escaped without injury. The Greek pilot sustained severe wounds but managed to land the helicopter in an empty building lot about 200 yards away. Makarios dragged the bleeding pilot from the leaking aircraft and flagged down a passing car to take him to Nicosia General Hospital for surgery.<\/p>

By noon on March 9, 1970, authorities held 11 men in custody. Among those arrested were several National Front leaders, including:<\/p>

Costas Haralambous<\/p>

Michaliakis Rossides<\/p>

Costas P. Ioannides (an editor of the newspaper “Gnomi”).<\/p>

Second Assassination Attempt<\/h1>

According to historical information a second assassination attempt occurred but failed. Not long after Gunmen from the right-wing Group attempted to assassinate the President without success.<\/p>

Third Assassination Attempt<\/h1>

Details of the Attack<\/h3>

The plotters planted explosives under a small bridge culvert on the road. They detonated the bomb just minutes before the presidential motorcade was due to pass that point. Nobody sustained any injuries, as Makarios was travelling via an alternative route that day.<\/p>

The Perpetrator<\/h3>

Police searched the area immediately after the explosion and arrested a wanted member of the anti-government EOKA-B organization. The armed man confessed he had planted the explosives under the culvert.<\/p>

The Forth Assassination Attempt<\/h1>

EOKA-B Campaign Against Makarios<\/h3>

General George Grivas founded EOKA-B in 1971 specifically to oppose Makarios’ deviation from enosis. The organisation drafted various plans to overthrow the president. Makarios responded by calling an election after one failed assassination attempt, and his coalition won 27 out of 35 parliamentary seats, demonstrating popular support against the extremists.<\/p>

The 1974 Coup Attempt<\/h3>

On July 15, 1974, the Greek military junta in Athens used National Guard forces and EOKA-B to launch a coup against Makarios. The plotters attempted to assassinate the president but failed, and Makarios fled to London. The coup installed Nikos Sampson as president and provoked the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on July 20, 1974.<\/p>

Threats Upon Return<\/h1>

Even after returning from exile in December 1974, Makarios faced ” dire threats of still another assassination attempt against him by the EOKA-B Greek Cypriot underground”. Despite these dangers, a crowd of 200,000 welcomed him home.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Four Assassination Attempts Survived President Makarios III, survived four assassination attempts during his three terms in office from 1959 to 1977. 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