19-year-old British woman arrested after Cyprus police dismiss rape claim

Several Israeli teenagers were arrested in connection with the alleged rape in Cyprus. Credit: AP

A British woman who claimed she was raped in Cyprus has been arrested after investigators dismissed her allegations.

Seven Israeli teenagers who were being detained as suspects over the alleged incident at a hotel in the party resort of Ayia Napa will now be released, a Cypriot lawyer said.

Yiannis Habaris, who represents two of the seven Israelis, said on Sunday that the 19-year-old British woman has been arrested and faces a public nuisance charge.

He said investigators questioning the teenager had concluded that her allegations “didn’t stand to reason”.

The incident was alleged to have taken place in Ayia Napa. Credit: AP

Mr Habaris said police had earlier provided DNA samples to Israeli authorities to locate three individuals who may have been implicated in the case, but, with the case collapsing, that assistance is no longer necessary.

Cypriot authorities initially arrested 12 Israelis on July 18 following the rape allegation. Five of them were released on Thursday.