Cyprus police: no reason to worry, extra measures taken due to terrorist threat

Cyprus Police Chief Michalis Papageorgiou has assured that citizens in Cyprus must not worry over a possible terrorist attack on the island, after warnings that al Qaeda may be planning attacks in August, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.

However, he stressed that there is no room for complacency and that everyone must remain vigilant.

Earlier, Police spokesman Andreas Angelides had said that police stepped up security measures over the weekend, particularly at embassies of western countries, after information conveyed by the secret services of the US and the UK over threats of a possible terrorist attack against western interests in the Middle East.

He noted that within the framework of cooperation between Cypriot authorities and other countries, “increased measures are being taken at embassies of western countries as well as elsewhere considered necessary.” He said that other than the additional measures, the whole situation was being monitored so that there are increased checks in some areas, in line with this cooperation.

Police Chief Papageorgiou said that terrorism is an issue that concerns everyone and that no country could claim that if faces no danger from terrorists.

He assured that Cyprus Police are cooperating with all other competent authorities of the Republic as well as with the EU, US and other countries authorities and evaluates the situation in the region using all the means at its disposal.

Responding to a question, Papageorgiou said that increased security measures are taken first of all at the airports and the ports which are under the control of the Republic.

The United States issued on Friday a worldwide travel alert warning Americans that al Qaeda may be planning attacks in August, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.