Cyprus will deport 17 suspected Islamic extremists belonging to Al Qaeda and Islamic State terrorist groups

Cyprus will deport 17 migrants who are suspected of belonging to extremist groups Daesh and Al-Qaeda or involved in acts of terrorism, 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 organizations” after their names were cross-checked with Interpol and Europol.

Nouris said the men were currently being held at a migrant detention facility at Menoyia near the southern coastal town of 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 private Omega TV channel Monday evening.

Cyprus has imposed a ban on regular passenger flights since March 21, but it is to be lifted once the airports are scheduled to reopen on June 9.

Nouris said security agencies Europol and Interpol had linked the men to Daesh or Al-Qaeda and their militant activities.

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

Cyprus said it has received around 3,000 asylum-seekers since the start of the year, most of whom had arrived before the lockdown came into effect in mid-March.

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

In mid-March Cyprus restricted entry, allowing in only its residents and citizens, under coronavirus lockdown measures.

Source: Daily Star