Police investigating abduction as two women reported missing (Updated)

Investigations are underway into the disappearance some two weeks ago of two women from Russia with clues pointing out to a possible crime, it emerged on Monday.

The two women, aged 43 and 33, were reported missing since November 17 from their residence in Larnaca.

Police spokesman Christos Andreou told state broadcaster CyBC they are investigating an abduction case and other relevant offences, after receiving information leading to the arrest last week of a 32-year-old man.

Reports said that blood was found in a cottage near Amiandos, matching the DNA of one of the two women.

“We are investigating these serious suspicions, we have been led to a house in a village in the Limassol district,” Andreou said.

He added that evidence was collected outside and inside the house.

The 32-year-old, a third-country national, who was the last person to be seen with the two women, was remanded last Friday for seven days, pending investigations. On Monday, an arrest warrant was issued for a second suspect, believed to have helped the 32-year-old.

“From preliminary findings it seems there is a link between the suspect and these two women,” Andreou said.

He added that they have been scouring the area near the house with the help of police dogs and drones for signs of the two women and called on people who may possess any information that could help, to contact the police.

Reports said police were searching for recently disturbed earth in the area after finding blood on a mini excavator at the house.

According to Alpha TV, the 32-year-old was doing construction work on the house in question and had the keys to it. It appears the two women had stayed there for a few days before their disappearance.

“We have come to the conclusion that the suspect was there with the two missing women, at some point,” Andreou told the Cyprus News Agency when asked to comment.

One of the two women reportedly arrived in Cyprus at the beginning of summer and the other about a month ago, both of them as tourists, the TV station reported. They were staying together in an apartment in the McKenzie area of Larnaca.