Greek Cypriot police detained in Turkish Cyprus

ISTANBUL

Hürriyet Photo

Turkish security forces have detained two Greek Cypriot police officers who crossed the border without permission in the Akıncılar district of northern Cyprus, İhlas news agency has reported.

The police officers reportedly crossed the border while pursuing a 19-year-old Turkish man, Coşkun Alaslan, on suspicions of smuggling. The Turkish man’s family denied the claims of smuggling, saying Alaslan was burning stubble in a rural area near the border.

Turkish military forces intervened in the incident after a melee erupted in the village where Greek Cypriot police moved to launch an operation to capture the Turkish man, the reports said.

It was the first time Greek Cypriot police have entered Turkish Cyprus since Turkey launched an operation in 1974 to protect the Turkish Cypriot community amid political chaos on the island.