Authorities in Cyprus have launched a manhunt for a 29-year-old Turkish Cypriot man who is suspected of kidnapping his two-year-old son from the child's British mother in the coastal city of Limassol. The incident has prompted an urgent police warning as the father is believed to have fled to the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island.
Details of the Abduction
According to local police, the father allegedly forced his way into the mother's residence at around 7:50 a.m. local time on Wednesday, accompanied by an accomplice. The pair reportedly grabbed the toddler and escaped in a small white car. Officers have since located the getaway vehicle and conducted a search, but the father and child remain missing.
Background of the Case
Limassol deputy police chief Lefteris Kyriakou confirmed that the father was already subject to an arrest warrant following a domestic violence complaint filed by the British mother in November of the previous year. The mother is a participant in the 'Hope' programme, a support initiative for victims of domestic abuse, according to local media outlet Protothema.
Police believe the father has crossed back into the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, an area not under the control of the Republic of Cyprus. A local task force has been alerted, and efforts are ongoing to locate the man and ensure the safe return of the child.
The British Foreign Office has been informed and is providing consular assistance to the mother. The case has drawn significant attention due to the cross-border nature of the alleged kidnapping and the prior history of domestic violence.
