Two men, aged 40 and 22, were remanded in police custody for eight days on Tuesday following an attack on the Omonia fan club in Lakatamia on Sunday night.

Police are investigating a number of offences against them including unlawful entry, rioting, malicious damage, possession of offensive weapons, being armed with intent to commit a felony, carrying a weapon to incite terror and assault causing actual bodily harm.

According to a police officer speaking at Nicosia district court on Tuesday, at around 10pm on Sunday night approximately 30 people, some of them wearing rival Apoel football team clothing, stormed the fan club building.

They attacked staff and caused damage, leaving three people injured.

Video-footage recorded outside the building revealed two cars approaching the area, allowing for the arrest of the vehicle owners – the two men, with the younger claiming he had nothing to do with the case.

While 15 statements had already been collected, the officer said that another 70 are due to be taken from the suspects’ families and friends.

Another 56 people are being sought.

The defence lawyer claimed the prosecution was trying to delay proceedings by collecting statements from family and friends, which the testifying officer denied, pointing to the official proceedings of the process.

According to the officer, video footage from eight surveillance systems had already been reviewed, with another four pending examination.

He added that the investigation also aimed to determine whether the suspects were in possession of official fan cards.

The suspects’ lawyer later criticised the eight-day remand, claiming it was for “ulterior purposes”. Prosecution, however, maintained that the allegations warranted detention beyond two days.

Following a match between Omonia and Apoel on Sunday evening, a mob of approximately 50 hooded individuals with their faces covered barged into the Omonia football team fan club in Lakatamia.

They broke in with offensive instruments including bats and proceeded to wreak havoc, causing extensive damage to the premises and leaving three injured.

Lakatamia mayor Fotoula Hadjipapa on Tuesday condemned the violent attack, calling it an “attack on democracy itself.”