Bomb scare at Cyprus airport ahead of Biden visit
A bomb scare at the main airport in Cyprus forced its evacuation on Tuesday, police said, only a day before US Vice President Joe Biden visits the Mediterranean island.
Police said they evacuated hundreds of passengers and staff from Larnaca International Airport at about 9:00 am (0600 GMT) after it received a phone call from someone saying a bomb had been planted there.
Bomb disposal experts used sniffer dogs and were joined by police in a search of the airport on the south coast of Cyprus.
They found nothing suspicious, and the passengers and staff were allowed back into the facility after about 90 minutes, said the police.
The scare also triggered a security alert at Paphos International Airport, on the holiday island's west coast, but its terminal was not evacuated.
Cyprus is already on high alert ahead of the scheduled arrival on Wednesday of Biden, only the second vice president of the United States to visit the country.
- Sapa