Gun scare on Irish tourist bus

TWO men were yesterday let off with a warning, after police found a replica Kalashnikov assault rifle and several knives in their luggage.

Philaretos Polycarpou, inspector of Paphos Police, said a bus was taking 45 Irish tourists from Limassol to Paphos Airport yesterday afternoon, when one of the passengers noticed what they thought was a firearm in a man’s luggage.

“The passenger in question called the police from their mobile phone and we immediately sent several units to stop the bus and search it. We did indeed find the rifle, but it was a replica, which can be bought in any tourist souvenir shop around the island. We also found a number of dangerous knives. We confiscated the weapons for examination and two passengers were taken to Paphos police headquarters for questioning. They were released without charge and taken to the airport, where they departed the island, as planned.”

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