Cyprus security authorities were on high alert before a drone struck RAF Akrotiri on 2 March — with two suspects believed linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards already under surveillance and in custody days before the attack.
Arrested before the strike
A 28-year-old Azerbaijani man and a 27-year-old Estonian woman were arrested on 26 February and remain in custody as terrorism suspects, according to sources. The pair had been placed under physical surveillance after intelligence indicated they were behaving suspiciously.
The 28-year-old allegedly photographed two facilities in Paphos linked to Israeli interests. The pair also travelled to Limassol and Larnaca.
Intelligence passed to Cyprus Police by a foreign partner service indicated the 28-year-old had made trips to Iran and is believed connected to the IRGC, Phileleftheros has learned. Classified information held by police reportedly identifies a specific individual in Iran acting as the suspect’s handler — the same individual linked to a 44-year-old Azerbaijani man holding a British passport who was arrested in Cyprus last summer. That man already faces charges of terrorism and espionage, having allegedly photographed British military facilities at Akrotiri.
Alert active before the strike
Security authorities had received intelligence about planned UAV activity on the island in the week before the Akrotiri strike, Phileleftheros has learned. Preventive measures were stepped up from 1 March and intensified further after the attack.
Police on heightened alert
Since the morning of 2 March, police leadership has issued continuous directives ordering officers to remain vigilant. An internal message seen by Phileleftheros, circulated last week, placed all officers on “increased operational readiness and alertness.”
The same message instructed officers to pay particular attention to facilities connected to American and Israeli interests and to roadblocks. Patrols have been deployed at infrastructure linked to British, American and Israeli interests, with regular patrols arranged at sites where permanent posts are not maintained.
Special instructions have been issued for areas adjacent to the buffer zone, with internal guidelines seen by Phileleftheros setting out surveillance arrangements and coordination protocols in those areas.
Dozens of officers previously assigned to conference centre duties have been redeployed to reinforce patrols — those activities having been suspended due to the regional situation as part of Cyprus’s Council of Europe presidency commitments. Overtime has been ordered to ensure no operation is left understaffed, and daily briefings are held to identify gaps in the security system. Officers have also been briefed on the protocol to follow should a drone come down.
Cooperation with British Bases
A joint cooperation plan is in place between Cyprus Police and authorities at the British Bases in Larnaca and Limassol, Phileleftheros has learned. A source with knowledge of security matters noted that building evacuations create additional policing challenges. “There is always the risk of break-ins and looting of properties,” the source said.
Bag alert near chief rabbi’s home
A sports bag found near the chief rabbi’s residence in Larnaca last Saturday triggered a precautionary response. According to sources, the bag was spotted at a distance from the home of the spiritual leader of Cyprus’s Jewish community and police were immediately called.
Officers found nothing suspicious. The bag belonged to someone attending a nearby sports centre.
TV crew checked at Akrotiri
In a separate incident at Akrotiri in the days following the drone strike, members of a television crew were stopped after moving away from the main press area to film near a boat maintenance facility, Phileleftheros has learned. Limassol Police Division officers verified the crew members’ identities. The incident was handled discreetly by a senior officer with no confrontation, and explanations were provided to those checked.
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