Cyprus to deport 17 migrant extremists

Acting on intelligence, Cyprus says it will deport 17 migrants who are being held on suspicion of having links to extremist groups or involved in acts of terror.

Cyprus will deport 17 migrants who are suspected of belonging to extremist groups Islam State and Al-Qaeda or involved in acts of terror, said Cypriot Interior Minister Nicos Nouris.

He said among the hundreds of irregular migrants who have entered the island, 17 people are “suspected of being involved in terror organisations” after their names were cross-checked with Interpol and Europol.

Nouris said the men are currently being held at a migrant detention facility at Menoyia, outside Larnaca, but they could not be deported because of COVID-19 lockdown measures.

“They are being held there, because of coronavirus we don’t have the capability to deport them at the moment. All procedures for their deportation are being made,” Nouris told Omega TV channel.

Nouris said security agencies Europol and Interpol have linked these men to Isis or Al-Qaeda and their terror activities.

He did not elaborate on the men’s nationalities or where they will be deported to.

Cyprus has received around 3,000 asylum-seekers since the start of the year, with most arriving before the lockdown came into effect in mid-March.

Nicosia says a spike in migrant arrivals ranks the country top in the EU for the highest number of asylum applications relative to its population.

In mid-March Cyprus only allowed entry to its residents and citizens under coronavirus lockdown measures.

Cyprus has received about 3,000 asylum-seekers since the start of the year, with most arriving before the lockdown came into effect.

On 21 March, Cyprus imposed a ban on all commercial flights.

That ban was extended on Tuesday until 8 June, the day before Cyprus airports are scheduled to open up again to selected countries only.