A dozen Israelis teenagers have been detained after a 19-year-old British woman alleged that she was raped in the Cyprus resort town of Ayia Napa, a Cyprus police official said Wednesday.
The police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation, said it's still early in the investigation and it was unclear how many suspects are implicated in the case.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The official couldn't say how the suspects knew the woman or whether they had been staying in Ayia Napa together as a group.
State broadcaster RIK reported the alleged rape happened early Wednesday in the same hotel where the woman and the 12 suspects were staying separately.
It's believed the suspects, 16-18 years of age, will appear in a Famagusta district court on Thursday for a custody hearing.
An Israeli tourist in Ayia Napa told Israel Hayom on Thursday that the "young woman got close with one of the Israelis and then his friends joined. It's not clear if it was consensual, but if those are the allegations then apparently not. The story doesn't end there; afterward, there was a serious fight with her friends, they simply kicked the Israelis' asses, even those that had nothing to do with anything. One Israeli was taken to the hospital; I don't know if he is part of their group or not but it was a serious incident that didn't end with rape allegations. It spilled into major violence that many people witnessed. It's not a secret."
Ayia Napa is very popular with young tourists for its pristine beaches and vibrant nightlife on the island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The alleged victim is undergoing a medical examination to confirm her account of the incident.
The Foreign Ministry said it was aware of the allegations against the teenagers and is working with authorities in Cyprus. Ministry officials have been allowed to speak to the suspects.
"The Israeli consul in Nicosia, Yossi Wurmbrand, is following developments and is in contact with the detainees. Their families have been updated," the ministry said in a statement.
