Vrysoules: Poachers Attack Activists - Surrender to Base Police

Two bird traps from Vrysoules, for which, according to the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS), there was an arrest warrant issued by the Base Police for a case of assault on a CABS activist, were handed over to the police of Dhekelia.

"The two men are accused of assaulting a car, driving a car without license plates, verbal violence (insult and death threats) against a CABS volunteer in front of Base police officers accompanying the volunteers.", notes in a statement sent to the media by CABS.

It's mentioned that "The incident happened in the morning hours of January 14 when the activists were driving the Base Police to an illegal bird trapping area near Agios Nikolaos".

"After the attack and the threats, the men left the scene, to be handed over a few days later after the increased pressure of the Police to locate them.", he states.

"We have been informed that at least one of them will soon be charged with assault and will appear in court."said CABS spokesman Andrea Rutigliano.

The announcement of the organization is as follows:

Two illegal bird trappers from Vrysoules, for whom an arrest warrant was issued by the Base Police for a case of assault on a CABS activist, have been handed over to the Dekeleia police station, the CABS Commission said today.

The two men are accused of causing bodily harm, driving a car without license plates, verbal violence (insult and death threats) against a CABS volunteer in front of the Base Police officers accompanying the volunteers. The incident happened in the morning hours of January 14 when the activists were driving the Base Police to an illegal bird trapping area near Agios Nikolaos. "Shortly after our meeting with the police, the two men arrived in a black SUV without license plates. They were aggressive and started shouting at us. The situation escalated when we were threatened with death and one of them hit me in the face, "said Cartisano, a member of the NGO. He also recalled that "only the presence of the police prevented the illegal trappers from becoming even more aggressive (and in the worst case, killing one of us)". Eventually the men stopped the attack and left the scene.

Following the attack, the Base Police issued arrest warrants for both suspects and increased its presence in Agios Nikolaos and Vrysoulles. The manhunt also included inspections of fields, breweries and betting chains, where the two suspects were suspected of frequent visits. The increased pressure from the police finally forced the two suspects to stop hiding and surrender to the police station of Dhekelia a few days after the attack. "We have been informed that at least one of them will soon be charged with assault and will appear in court," said CABS spokesman Andrea Rutigliano. CABS expressed its satisfaction with the rapid success of the investigation and praised the Base Police for its professionalism and efforts to combat / reduce illegal bird trapping.

Following 2016, CABS complaints to Base Police led to a 85% reduction in illegal bird trapping within the British Base in Cyprus. The CABS also noted that law enforcement in areas under the control of the Republic of Cyprus is at a very low level, while the Cyprus Anti-Smuggling Scale has recently been abolished. Also, the Hunting and Fauna Service as well as the local police rarely respond to complaints of illegal bird trapping.

The group says a series of violent attacks on its members in recent years will not stop them from continuing their work to end the illegal bird trapping in Cyprus.