At around 04:50 in the morning today, a suspicious target was identified by the Port and Maritime Police, initially moving towards the occupied areas and then changing course and heading towards the free areas.
A L&NA vessel moved towards the target for reconnaissance purposes. An inflatable boat was spotted at the site, which appeared to be carrying around 20 people, while the two navigators were wearing hoods.
At the sight of the Police, they attempted to escape and ram the Port Authority boat, resulting in a pursuit and warning shots being fired.
The inflatable boat then collided with a shoreline, causing it to come to a standstill and the occupants to swim to shore.
So far, 15 people have been identified by the Police. They are men of Syrian origin.
From the very beginning, a Crisis Management Center was put into operation at the Famagusta Police Department, while investigations are underway to identify other people who were on board the boat.
The examinations are continuing by the Famagusta Criminal Investigation Department, with the ultimate goal of identifying the traffickers.
