Latest news with #Akrotiri
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
British man arrested in Cyprus suspected of spying and terror offences
A British man has been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying and terror-related offences. The BBC understands he is thought to have carried out surveillance for Iran on the RAF Akrotiri base on the island. Local media say he is of Azerbaijani descent and has connections to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. He appeared in a district court earlier on Saturday and was detained for a further eight days. The Foreign Office said it was in contact with Cypriot authorities. RAF Akrotiri is the UK's most significant base in the region and has previously been used to help defend Israeli skies from attack by Iran. Last week, it was announced that further planes would be sent there to protect existing UK assets. In a statement, the UK Foreign Office said: "We are in contact [with] the authorities in Cyprus regarding the arrest of a British man." The statement was provided to the BBC following a question regarding reports in Cypriot media about the counter-terror arrest. Police on the island said a man had been arrested on suspicion of terror-related offences and espionage. They said they would not say more for reasons of national security. Cyprus's ANT1 news outlet said the suspect was thought to have had RAF Akrotiri under surveillance, as well as Cyprus's own Andreas Papandreou Air Base in the western region of Paphos since mid-April. RAF Akrotiri is home to fast jets, reconnaissance, transport and refuelling aircraft.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
British man arrested for alleged terrorism offence and spying on RAF base in Cyprus
A British man has been arrested on suspicion of espionage and terrorism offences in Cyprus. He allegedly surveilled the RAF Akrotiri base on the island and is suspected of having links with Iran's Revolutionary Guards, local media reported. RAF Akrotiri is the UK's most important airbase for operations in the Middle East. The Philenews website said the man was arrested on Friday after intelligence he was planning an imminent terrorist attack. The man appeared before a district court on Saturday, which ordered he be detained for eight days pending inquiries, Reuters reported. Police told the news agency they would not be releasing further details, citing national security. He is alleged to have lived in a flat in Zakai, Limassol, close to Akrotiri, and was observed near the base carrying a camera with a long lens and three mobile phones. The suspect is also alleged to have had the Cyprus's Andreas Papandreou airbase, in the western region of Paphos, under surveillance since mid-April, the country's ANT1 news portal reported. Local reports suggested he was Azerbaijani but the UK Foreign Office said they were working with the authorities over the arrest of a Briton. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We are in contact with the authorities in Cyprus regarding the arrest of a British man.'
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
British man arrested on suspicion of spying and terrorism offences in Cyprus
A British man has been arrested on suspicion of espionage and terrorism offences in Cyprus. The man is reported to have kept the RAF Akrotiri base on the island under surveillance and is alleged to have links with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, local media reported. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are in contact with the authorities in Cyprus regarding the arrest of a British man.' RAF Akrotiri is the UK's most important airbase for operations in the Middle East. The Philenews website said the man was arrested on Friday following intelligence he was planning an imminent terrorist attack. He is alleged to have lived in a flat in Zakai, Limassol, close to Akrotiri and was observed near the base carrying a camera with a long lens and three mobile phones. Local reports suggested he was Azerbaijani but the UK Foreign Office said they were working with the authorities over the arrest of a Briton.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
British man arrested in Cyprus suspected of spying and terror offences
A British man has been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying and terror-related BBC understands he is thought to have carried out surveillance for Iran on the RAF Akrotiri base on the media say he is of Azerbaijani descent and has connections to Iran's Revolutionary appeared in a district court earlier on Saturday and was detained for a further eight days. The Foreign Office said it was in contact with Cypriot it is not in the Middle East, RAF Akrotiri is the UK's most significant in the region and has previously been used to help defend Israeli skies from attack by Iran. Last week, it was announced that further planes would be sent there to protect existing UK a statement, the UK Foreign Office said: "We are in contact [with] the authorities in Cyprus regarding the arrest of a British man." The statement was provided to the BBC following a question regarding reports in Cypriot media about the counter-terror on the island said a man had been arrested on suspicion of terror-related offences and espionage. They said they would not say more for reasons of national ANT1 news outlet said the suspect was thought to have had RAF Akrotiri under surveillance, as well as Cyprus's own Andreas Papandreou Air Base in the western region of Paphos since Akrotiri is home to fast jets, reconnaissance, transport and refuelling aircraft.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
British man arrested on suspicion of spying and terrorism offences in Cyprus
A British man has been arrested on suspicion of espionage and terrorism offences in Cyprus. The man is reported to have kept the RAF Akrotiri base on the island under surveillance and is alleged to have links with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, local media reported. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are in contact with the authorities in Cyprus regarding the arrest of a British man.' RAF Akrotiri is the UK's most important airbase for operations in the Middle East. The Philenews website said the man was arrested on Friday following intelligence he was planning an imminent terrorist attack. He is alleged to have lived in a flat in Zakai, Limassol, close to Akrotiri and was observed near the base carrying a camera with a long lens and three mobile phones. Local reports suggested he was Azerbaijani but the UK Foreign Office said they were working with the authorities over the arrest of a Briton.
