Paphos authorities were alarmed on Thursday after spotting two cartridges sown inside the lining of a woman’s bag who was visiting Paphos district court.

According to Paphos CID chief and police spokesman Michalis Nicolaou, the woman arrived at the court together with a 28-year-old man around 9.30am.

During inspections before entering the premises, the security scanning equipment spotted two military cartridges inside the woman’s bag. Officers who inspected the bag discovered the ammunition was hidden in the lining.

Then, the man accompanying the woman grabbed the bag from the court employee and fled on foot together with the female suspect.

Nicolaou said arrest warrants will be issued against the two for the illegal possession and transportation of explosives.

It was initially unclear why the two suspects were at the court.