Twelve Israeli teens appear in court in Cyprus accused of gang-raping Briton, 19, in Ayia Napa hotel ‘while filming on their phones’ in ‘attack’ that prompted British tourists to beat up Israeli holidaymakers
- A 19-year-old British woman alleged she was raped in Ayia Napa on Wednesday
- 12 Israelis arrested in connection with the attacked appeared in court Thursday
- Briton told police that she went back to the hotel with one Israeli who she knew and had previously slept with, when group burst into the room and attacked her
- Teen attackers laughed and filmed with their phones during assault, she claims
- British tourists then launched attacks on Israelis after group were arrested
Twelve Israeli teenagers accused of gang-raping a 19-year-old British woman in Cyprus have appeared in court.
The group, aged between 16 and 18, allegedly attacked the woman around 12.30am Wednesday at a hotel where they were staying in the party resort of Ayia Napa.
The woman said the group held her down and attacked her in a room of the hotel while laughing and filming on their phones.
As news of the alleged attack spread, British tourists began attacking Israelis who they thought were involved, Israeli media reports.
Twelve Israeli teenagers accused of gang-raping a 19-year-old British woman in Ayia Napa covered their faces as they appeared in court Thursday for a bail hearing
The woman said she had been at a party with one of the men who she met three days earlier and had slept with on multiple occasions, Israel’s Ynet News reported.
The pair agreed to go back to his room and once inside, the other 11 men rushed in and launched their attack, she said in her police complaint.
Court documents showed that the woman suffered scratches to her legs that were ‘the result of trauma’.
The court hearing, which was held behind closed doors because some of the Israelis are minors, was to determine whether they can be held in custody for an additional week while officers examine DNA evidence they have provided.
The request was expected to be granted.
Video taken outside of court shows the group arriving with their t-shirts pulled up in order to hide their faces.
Reports in Cypriot media suggest that police do not yet have enough evidence to implicate all 12 men.
Three of those under arrest have admitted to having sex with the woman, according to Israel’s Channel 12, but all of them say it was done ‘with consent and love’.
The other nine deny having anything to do with the attack, the station reported.
Channel 12 also quoted witnesses as saying that British tourists in the hotel began attacking Israeli guests as news of the attack spread.
The hotel, which has not been identified, often hosts Israeli youngsters at this time of year as they go on vacation before the start of mandatory military service.
The Israelis said they had struck up a friendship with the British tourists ahead of the alleged attack.
One of the Israeli group translated for the others, who are understood to speak only a limited amount of English.
A mother of one of the boys told Keshet 12 that her son called her ‘in tears’ saying that he cannot understand what Greek police are saying to him.
All 12 suspects are expected to be brought before a judge on Thursday.
The woman told police that she went back to the hotel room of one of the Israelis who she knew and had slept with previously when the other 11 men rushed in and attacked her (file)
Israel’s Foreign Office said in a statement it was aware of the case and that diplomats had access to the detained group.
‘The Israeli consul in Nicosia, Yossi Wurmbrand, is following developments and is in contact with the detainees,’ the department told The Times of Israel.
‘Their families have been updated.’
Ayia Napa is popular with younger tourists for its pristine beaches and vibrant nightlife.
In 2016, British tourist George Low was stabbed to death at a bar in the resort town.
The 22-year-old got into a fight at the end of a pub crawl, leading to him and his friend Ben Barker getting stabbed.
The fight reportedly began after the pair were caught urinating in public.