22-year-old Syrian national reportedly raped 3 tourist women in south Cyprus

A 22-year-old Syrian national has been arrested by Greek Cypriot police for allegedly raping three tourist women in Agia Napa, south Cyprus.

The incident happened between April 18 and mid-May.

Following coordinated actions and under complete secrecy the Famagusta Police found and arrested the suspect, who is seen to be responsible for at least three rapes of tourists in Agia Napa.

Police said it received complaints from three tourists women, a 28-year-old European citizen and two British tourists aged 25 and 21 from April until mid May who said an unidentified person had dragged and raped them in an open space in Agia Napa. 

The women told police that they were walking late at night while intoxicated, when they had been approached by a man who held them in an embrace and led them to a dark place where he raped them.

Police examined CCTV footage, particularly of the areas where, according to the allegations, the rapes are said to have taken place.

The closed-circuit investigations showed a person moving suspiciously and bearing resemblance to the description given to police by the victims.

Police presented visual stills of the suspect from which one of the complainants identified the man as the rapist.

The suspect who arrived in Cyprus illegally and has requested political asylum admitted to the crime during questioning.

The man was taken before the Famagusta District Court which ordered his imprisonment for eight days.