FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE— Authorities in Cyprus have arrested a man suspected of espionage and terrorism, following intelligence received by national police headquarters, officials said Saturday.
The suspect, reported to be of Azerbaijani origin, was brought before the Limassol District Court in a closed hearing, where an eight-day remand was ordered. He is alleged to have operated a surveillance base, focusing his activities on the British military facilities in Akrotiri and the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos.
Police raided the suspect’s apartment in Limassol at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, seizing cameras, hard drives and two computers.
The electronic equipment is now under investigation. Authorities believe the surveillance began in mid-April.
The suspect has been transferred to police headquarters in Nicosia for further interrogation.
RAF Akrotiri: Key British Military Base in the Eastern Mediterranean
RAF Akrotiri is a major Royal Air Force station located on the southern coast of Cyprus, within the British Sovereign Base Areas. Established in 1955, it serves as a Permanent Joint Operating Base and plays a critical role in supporting UK military operations across the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.
The base provides forward mounting capabilities for air operations, including surveillance, logistics, and combat missions. It also hosts 84 Squadron, which conducts search and rescue operations in coordination with Cypriot authorities.
RAF Akrotiri has been used extensively in recent decades for missions in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, and remains a strategic hub for British and allied forces in the region.