Egypt calls Cyprus to extradite hijacker of EgyptAir plane

Prosecutor general Nabil Sadek has called on Cypriot authorities to take measures to hand over Seif el Din Moustafa Mohamed, who hijacked on Tuesday EgyptAir flight MS181 while en route from Alexandria to Cairo and forced it to land in Larnaca Airport, Cyprus.

The request is in line with the bilateral agreement on extraditing criminals signed with Cyprus on March 25, 1996 and relevant international agreements on combating hijacking. 

Moustafa hijacked EgyptAir flight MS181 after takeoff from Alexandria and forced it to be redirected to Cyprus, claiming to be wearing an explosives belt which was later found to be fake.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said Moustafa had initially asked to speak with his Cypriot ex-wife, who police brought to the airport, before making a series of "incoherent" demands.

He was appearing in court in the Cypriot city of Larnaca on Wednesday. The Egyptair plane left Larnaca late Tuesday bound for Cairo, its original destination.

Source : MENA