South Cyprus has intensified screening procedures at its ports, airports and checkpoints to prevent Europeans from passing through the country en-route to Syria joining the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a security official said, Al Arabya reports online.
The security official said that since Turkey has tightened security measures to stem the flow of potential jihadists into Syria, it is possible that Europeans could travel to Cyprus, cross into the Turkish Cypriot north, then head into Syria that way.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity on Wednesday because he didn’t want to publicly discuss sensitive security issues.
He added that the new security measures include tougher police scrutiny at seven crossing points along the 180 kilometre (110 mile), UN-controlled buffer zone that regulates people and vehicles travelling across Cyprus’ north-south divide.
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