HIDDEN ALARM IN THE REPUBLIC - SEARCH FOR A SUITCASE IN LARNACA, CONTROL OF JOURNALISTS AT AKROTIRI - Filenews 10/3 by Fanis Makridis
A precautionary alarm was sounded in Larnaca last Saturday morning, when a suitcase had to be checked that was in a place near the place of residence of the chief rabbi.
Our cross-checked information from independent information sources states that the suitcase was located at a distance from the house of the spiritual leader of the Jewish community in Cyprus, however, competent members of the Police were immediately notified in order to carry out a preventive check. The potential risk was not underestimated.
From the checks of the security body, nothing reprehensible was found. As it turns out, the bag belonged to a person, who went to an adjacent sports activity center.
The incident is indicative of the way in which all security issues have been approached in recent days in the Republic of Cyprus. As we have highlighted from our report, during the previous 24 hours there was a hidden alarm even before the attack with Unmanned Aircraft in Akrotiri, while from March 1 onwards the preventive measures were intensified.
The security measures
The authorities within the Republic of Cyprus in charge of security tasks do not leave events to chance and immediately deal with issues to rule out any possibility of a terrorist act.
Identity verification
An incident that took place in Akrotiri in the first days following the first drone attack is also indicative. Specifically, according to cross-checked information, executives of one of the television crews who had gone to the scene for footage were checked.
The specific functionaries of the electronic media moved away from the place where the other journalists were and received footage from a boat maintenance area. Members of the Limassol Police Department immediately rushed and verified the details of the two media officials.The incident, as we are reliably informed, was handled discreetly by a senior officer of the Force without causing tension, as the necessary explanations were given to the controlled.
And this incident illustrates the way in which the Authorities approach security issues, which act under the doctrine that dictates that there should be no unnecessary panic, but, at the same time, that nothing should be left to chance.
"Operational readiness"
Since the morning of last Monday (2/3), a few hours after the drone strike, the leadership of the Force has been giving continuous instructions to the members of the Police in order to be vigilant.
One of these internal messages, which is known to "F" and was sent last week, states that all members are called upon to be in "increased operational readiness and vigilance".
American and Israeli...
In the same message, in fact, it was recommended that special attention be paid to facilities linked to American and Israeli interests, as well as to barricades.
Besides, as we are informed, in places where infrastructure of British, American and Israeli interests is located, there are static police patrols. However, even if there is no permanent presence in some facilities, arrangements are made for patrols at regular intervals.
Dead zone
Special instructions have been given to the members of the Cyprus Police for the control carried out in areas adjacent to the buffer zone. One of the internal notes that our newspaper has become aware of, explains exactly the regime under which surveillance is carried out and what understanding is made in such cases.
The staff
Special arrangements have been made by the leadership of the Cyprus Police, so that there is the required number of officers for the implementation of preventive, but increased, security measures.
Dozens of police officers performing duties at the conference center were used. We remind you that the activities there within the framework of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of Europe were postponed due to the situation in the Middle East. The officers of the Corps, who were in charge of missions within the framework of the presidency, therefore, strengthened the patrols in the other provinces.
In addition, instructions have been given for overtime duties, in order to ensure that no business will be understaffed.
In general, there are joint actions with cooperating services, while daily meetings are held with the aim of covering any holes in the security system.
Close cooperation
It is reported that in the British Bases of Larnaca and Limassol there is cooperation and a plan between the Police and the Authorities there. A person with knowledge of security issues told us that "in cases of evacuation of building facilities, additional policing issues arise, as there is always the risk of burglaries and looting of property".
It should also be noted that the members of the Police from the morning before last Monday were informed about a protocol of actions in the event of a drone crashing, like the one that hit the Akrotiri Bases.
The hidden alarm at the end of February
The hidden alarm in Cyprus is underway even before an attack with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's) occurred on our island. According to our report last Saturday, in the week preceding the attack, the competent security authorities had information about a movement that would take place in Cyprus and was related to UAV's.
At the same time, an alleged pair of tourists, a 28-year-old Azeri and a 27-year-old Estonian, were placed under physical surveillance. Information put before the Cyprus Police stated that the two persons were acting in a strange way.
The 28-year-old allegedly photographed two facilities in Paphos, of Israeli interests. The alleged couple was trafficked in Limassol and Larnaca.
Based on information that the Cyprus Police had from a cooperating foreign service, the 28-year-old had travelled to Iran and is believed to be connected to the Revolutionary Guards. The same information states that the Police have classified information that presents the suspect as the "operator" a specific person from Iran, who is also connected to the 44-year-old Azeri holder of a British passport who was arrested last summer in Cyprus. The 44-year-old is already accused of terrorism and espionage offenses, after allegedly photographing the British facilities in Akrotiri.
It should be noted that the 28-year-old Azeri and the 27-year-old from Estonia were arrested on February 26, while they are in custody on suspicion of terrorism offenses.
