A manhunt is continuing in Cyprus after a British toddler was reportedly snatched from the home of his British mother in the coastal holiday hotspot of Limassol. The terrified mother raised the alarm after the two-year-old boy’s father, a 29-year-old Turkish Cypriot, allegedly burst into the property on Wednesday with an accomplice and abducted the child.
Where the Child Was Taken
Detectives believe the incident occurred at the mother’s home in Limassol, the second-largest urban area in Cyprus, located on the southern coast and popular with international tourists. Police have already searched the suspected getaway vehicle as the urgent hunt continues.
What We Know About the Father
According to local authorities, the father illegally entered the southern part of the island by crossing from the Turkish-occupied north. Limassol’s deputy police chief, Lefteris Kyriakou, stated that the father was already subject to an arrest warrant after the mother reported him for domestic violence last year. Detectives believe the man has since returned to the Turkish-occupied north, and a specialist task force has been contacted to track his movements.
Social Media Video Probe
Police are investigating a video the father posted on social media, which reportedly shows him with the child in the back of a vehicle. The father is said to have stormed the house with another man at 7:50 a.m. local time on Wednesday before grabbing the boy and fleeing in a small white car.
Mother Enrolled in Hope Program
Local outlet Protothema reports that the child’s mother is part of the Hope program, which supports victims of domestic abuse. Under the scheme, victims are given an alert button to immediately notify police when in danger.
