Man suspected of being serial rapist in Ayia Napa

A young man in Ayia Napa has been arrested on rape charges, with police saying they apprehended the suspect after getting help from a local person and linking him to three separate complaints.

Local media said a 22-year-old man from Syria was initially detained on Monday in connection with an alleged rape in the resort town. Police declined to provide details about the arrest while reports said the alleged incident took place in mid-May.

But according to the Cyprus News Agency, the arrest took place in connection with a total of three women in Ayia Napa who filed rape complaints separately between April 18 and mid-May.

“In the early morning hours, as they were walking while intoxicated, an unknown person fitting a description would approach them, put his arms around them, and walk them to dark alleys where he allegedly proceeded to rape them,” CNA wrote.

Knews has been told the two women were foreign tourists while the third complainant was described as a foreign national who lives in the area permanently. It was not clear whether the third woman was also working or just visiting the area.

Police told Knews the alleged encounters took place in dark side alleys adjacent to a crowded venue on a main avenue.

CNA also reported that police investigators managed to identify a suspect after seeking security camera footage from the area, with one of the women reportedly identifying the Syrian man as the perpetrator.

“Members of law enforcement took the photo of the suspect and showed it door to door until one citizen recognized the individual and shared information about his place of residence,” CNA reported.

Police said the case was still pending investigation while the suspect, who was on Tuesday remanded in custody for eight days, was purported to have admitted to investigators that "he was out looking for drunken women to have sex."

According to CNA, the 22-year-old man appeared to have admitted rape charges in three separate cases.

Police told Knews on Wednesday that the exact dates and content of the rape allegations would not be made public, citing privacy concerns.