The Police and the competent state services are on constant vigilance to deal with potential terrorist threats, especially after the latest developments in the Middle East, said the spokesman of the Police, Byron Byron.
Mr. Byron said that the exchange of information and cooperation with foreign security services contribute to the early detection of persons who may be planning terrorist acts.
Referring to the case being investigated in Cyprus for terrorism-related offenses, Mr. Byron said that four persons are in custody, avoiding to comment on information in relation to the arrest of a 37-year-old suspect in Greece allegedly related to this case.
He stressed, at the same time, that the Republic of Cyprus maintains close cooperation with European Union states and other countries, as well as with international organizations such as Europol and Interpol, in the context of preventing and dealing with terrorist threats.
Asked about the arrest of the 37-year-old terrorism suspect in Crete, in relation to the fact that the Greek authorities seem to have used information from Cyprus, Mr. Byron said that he could not go into details. However, he noted that there is cooperation with the Greek authorities, as well as with other services. "In Cyprus, the case is being investigated and there are four persons who are in custody," he said.
Asked to answer about the degree of readiness of the Cypriot Police to deal with possible terrorist acts, Ms. Byron said that the Police and the other services of the Republic have been on constant alert for some time, especially after the outbreak of the war in the Middle East.
"There is cooperation with other services of foreign countries, information is exchanged in accordance with defined bilateral agreements that exist, the situation is being monitored and actions are being taken so that persons who have in mind to carry out any terrorist act on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus are identified in a timely manner," he said.
Mr. Byron clarified that he cannot give any other information on this issue, which concerns national security issues. He assured, however, the citizens that the authorities of the Republic are vigilant to detect any threat.
Asked if the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (DAOE), or otherwise the so-called "Cypriot FBI", will have a leading role in the issue of dealing with terrorist threats, Mr. Byron said that although it has not yet been established, the services that will make up the Directorate, have not stopped being active in this direction and with its establishment they will continue to do so.
Finally, asked in relation to international cooperation to deal with terrorist threats, the Police spokesman said that the Cypriot authorities have direct and full cooperation with EU countries, and not only, both bilaterally and at the level of organizations such as Interpol and Europol.
