Syrian national arrested in north Cyprus after fleeing from the south

A Syrian national who entered north Cyprus from the south and also violated a military forbidden zone was brought to court on Saturday.

The individual, M.A, a Syrian national resident in south Cyprus was arrested at around 5.30pm on Friday Nov. 1 after crossing into the north in an as-yet-undisclosed location in Lefkosia.

He was detected by Turkish Cypriot soldiers on duty on the Green Line.

He appeared in court on Saturday charged with "First Degree Violation of Military Prohibited Zone and Secretly Entering the TRNC".

The police representative in court said the man had no ties to north Cyprus, and that as such it would be “highly likely” that he would flee if released on bail. As such, the judge ordered that he be held in custody for a period not exceeding two months until trial.

The man’s arrival in the north is the latest in a string of Syrian nationals crossing illegally from the south, with multiple people having been arrested throughout the course of the summer while making similar journeys.