British man arrested in Cyprus over alleged terror, spying activities
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A US Air Force C-130 Hercules cargo plane landing at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus, on June 19.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
NICOSIA - Police in Cyprus have arrested a British man on suspicion of terror-related offences and espionage, the authorities said on June 21.
The man on June 21 appeared before a district court, which ordered an eight-day detention, pending inquiries.
No further details would be issued, police said, citing national security.
A spokesperson for Britain’s Foreign Office confirmed the individual’s nationality, saying it was in contact with local authorities.
“We are in contact (with) the authorities in Cyprus regarding the arrest of a British man,” the spokesperson told Reuters.
Several Cypriot news outlets reported that the suspect was a man of Azeri ethnic descent and had been arrested in the Zakaki suburb of the coastal city of Limassol.
The suspect was thought to have had a British Royal Air Force military base in nearby Akrotiri under surveillance, as well as Cyprus’ own Andreas Papandreou Air Base in the western region of Paphos since mid-April, reported Cyprus’ ANT1 news portal.
Cyprus lies very close to the Middle East and has in recent days been used as a transit point for people leaving or entering the region amid the conflict between regional foes Israel and Iran.
Terror-related offences on the island are very rare. REUTERS
