Cyprus arrests Austrian man suspected of terrorism links

NICOSIA, Cyprus – Cyprus’ justice minister says authorities have arrested a 28-year-old Austrian man on suspicion of having links to terrorist organizations.

Ionas Nicolaou told the Associated Press Thursday that Cypriot authorities received a tip-off from Poland’s Interpol that the man was seeking to come to Cyprus after Polish authorities deported him.

The Muslim convert was arrested Wednesday evening as he tried to cross from the divided island’s breakaway Turkish Cypriot north into the internationally recognized, Greek Cypriot south. He had flown into the country from Istanbul.

The man was on a watch list of individuals known to have been radicalized. He told police he wanted to come to Cyprus to pray at a mosque where it’s said the Prophet Mohammed’s aunt is buried.

Nicolaou said the man will be deported to Austria.

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This story has been corrected to change days in story to Thursday and Wednesday, and not Wednesday and Tuesday.