A heavily rusted G3 military rifle was discovered on Sunday afternoon in shallow waters off the coast of Xylofagou, putting the British Bases Police on high alert.
According to an update from the British Bases, citizens reported the find today, May 31, 2026, at around 5:30 p.m. Members of the British Bases Police immediately deployed to the scene and are conducting inquiries.
The official statement from the British Bases reads:
Today, May 31, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., the British Bases Police received information from members of the public that a highly rusted G3-type rifle was located in shallow waters in a maritime area of Xylofagou.
Members of the British Bases Police went immediately to the scene and are conducting examinations. The Police are in close cooperation with the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, including the Cyprus Police and the National Guard, in order to investigate the origin of the weapon and the circumstances under which it was found in the area.
The investigation is ongoing, and there is no further information available for release at this stage.