Limassol, Cyprus. A 26-year-old man suspected of kidnapping his 23-month-old child from Limassol was placed under arrest by authorities in the north on Thursday. Police in the south also arrested a 53-year-old Turkish Cypriot man in Larnaca on suspicion of aiding and abetting the alleged kidnapping.
Arrest in the north and child welfare response
According to Turkish Cypriot media, the 26-year-old is in custody on suspicion of trespassing in a prohibited zone and departing the north of the island without the required permit.
Social services in the north reportedly intervened and placed the child temporarily under the care of its grandmother.
Earlier, a request for assistance had been sent to the north via the bi-communal technical committee on crime and criminal matters.
Alleged abduction from the mother’s home
The man, described as a Turkish national, is suspected of crossing into the south illegally on Wednesday and taking the child from the mother’s home before fleeing back to the north.
Police are also investigating a video circulated on social media that appears to show the child’s father in a car with the child.
It was also reported that the child’s mother filed a police complaint last year accusing the father of domestic violence.
Arrest and remand of suspected accomplice in the south
Police in the south arrested a 53-year-old Turkish Cypriot man in Larnaca on suspicion of aiding and abetting the kidnapping, and a court ordered him remanded in police custody for eight days.
He is suspected of conspiracy to commit a crime, kidnapping of a minor, assault, causing grave bodily harm, and trespassing into private property.
According to the 35-year-old mother, the father and a second individual broke into the house and violently took the child.
What steps do you think authorities should prioritise to ensure the child’s safety while the investigation continues?
