NICOSIA: Five Israeli tourists were remanded in Cyprus police custody on Monday in connection with an alleged gang rape of a young British woman in the popular resort of Ayia Napa, authorities said.

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       The five men, aged between 19 and 20, were arrested on Sunday after a 20-year-old British tourist told police she was gang raped at a hotel room in the Mediterranean island’s premier party spot.

       They appeared before Paralimni district court on the southeast coast, where they were ordered held in custody for eight days on suspicion of rape, police said.

       They said the suspects will be held to facilitate their investigation. The state-funded Cyprus News Agency said the arrests came after police secured witness testimony to support the allegation.

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       According to the Cypriot Philenews website, the five Israelis and the Briton will undergo medical examinations.

       Israel’s foreign ministry said the Israeli embassy in Cyprus received reports on Monday morning that six Israelis have been arrested for “suspected raping of a British tourist”.

       The ministry said officials are in touch with Cypriot authorities as well as with families of the detained Israelis.

       The incident is reminiscent of a similar gang rape case in Ayia Napa four years ago when 12 Israelis were arrested for an attack on a teenage British girl.

       They were released after the woman retracted her police statement, but said police pressured her into doing do. The 19-year-old was convicted in 2020 for causing public mischief, and handed a four-month suspended jail term.

       Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2023