NICOSIA: Cyprus police said Friday they arrested two Pakistani men on suspicion of links to militant groups, after being tipped off by foreign intelligence agencies.
“We arrested two people after receiving information concerning illegal activity linked to fundamentalism and extremist activity,” police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos told AFP.
The men were about 40 years old, he said without providing any other details about the information that led to their arrest.
Reports said police arrested the pair in the capital Nicosia on Wednesday during a swoop on in which they netted two laptops, several CDs and written text.
The daily Phileleftheros said the Cypriot authorities had been alerted four months ago about the suspects' links to extremism related to terror activities.
They were suspected of trying to form a terror cell on the Mediterranean island, and had been under surveillance up until they were arrested.
Police said deportation orders against the two for overstaying their visas were suspended while evidence was being examined to see if they have committed any criminal offence.
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