Police silent over alleged op to catch teen predator

Police declined to comment on an alleged kidnapping of two teenagers at a park in Nicosia, following reports that a boy and a girl accompanied by their parents filed a complaint that led to a failed undercover operation to catch a pervert.

Law enforcement officials remained tight-lipped about a complaint filed by a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, both of whom went to CID Nicosia with their legal guardians and told police they were held hostage by an unknown male.

Police declined to provide any details on the case but an official confirmed to Knews on Friday that a complaint had been filed.

According to Reporter, the teens said on April 20 in the late afternoon an unknown man approached them, tied them up, and took their mobile phones, while holding them at ransom between 5pm and 8pm.

The teenagers also said the man was making obscene gestures at the girl.

According to the complaint, the alleged kidnapper demanded €25,000 from each family in order to let the kids go, while also threatening to take them to Famagusta district where he would kill them.

Later reports by Philenews said the teenagers said he finally let them go but asked them to come back the next day to pay €1000 each in order to get their phones back.

Undercover police officers organized an operation to catch the predator, with cops taking positions in the area and waiting for the alleged pervert who did not show up.

Local media said the alleged kidnapper was described as a foreign male, about 1.70m with long black hair, and wearing sweats with Arabic letters.

Officers were said to be patrolling the area, according to local media, while the mobile phones of the teenagers have yet to be detected on the network.

But reports also suggested police were trying to ascertain more fully the circumstances surrounding the complaint, while the teens may be called back with their parents to provide more information.