Larnaca district court on Sunday renewed the remand orders of four suspects being investigated in connection with a terrorism case involving large quantities of materials used in the manufacture of explosives.
The renewed remands were granted during two separate closed-door hearings held on consecutive days before the Larnaca District Court.
The four men in custody include two Palestinian nationals, aged 32 and 38, who are suspected of offences related to terrorism and participation in a criminal organisation, as well as two other men, aged 54 and 57, who are alleged to have assisted them.
Separate court hearings
The 54-year-old and 57-year-old suspects appeared before the court on Saturday and Sunday, where their detention orders were extended by a further five days following proceedings held behind closed doors.
On Sunday, the court separately considered a request to extend the detention of the 32-year-old and 38-year-old suspects. The hearing was also conducted behind closed doors, and the court granted a further four days of detention.
According to reports, one of the two men is alleged to have admitted that Israeli targets were intended, although he reportedly did not specify where any planned attacks would have taken place.
Cooperation with others
Investigators believe the two younger suspects played a central role in the case and are examining whether they may have worked with other individuals in Cyprus.
The 32-year-old, who has been living in Cyprus for several years, has been linked to both a property at Governor's Beach and an apartment in the Kamares area of Larnaca, where he resided with his family.
Materials used in the manufacture of explosives were discovered at both locations, including quantities of ammonium nitrate.
Authorities are investigating the origin of the chemicals and have not ruled out the possibility that some of the materials were sourced from within the Cypriot market.
The 38-year-old suspect has also been linked to the recovered materials. Investigators believe he was residing illegally in Cyprus and suspect he may have entered territory controlled by the Republic through the island's Turkish-occupied north.
Discovery of explosive materials
The first substantial cache of materials was discovered at the Governor's Beach property on 21 May.
A second large quantity was found two days later in a second-floor apartment in the Kamares area that had been under surveillance by authorities.
All recovered materials have been sent for specialised forensic and scientific analysis.
According to an informed source, the examinations are expected to be completed within the coming days and are considered crucial to determining the nature and intended use of the substances involved.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine possible links between the suspects, the recovered materials and any wider network that may be connected to the case.
