Two foreign nationals remanded for trial in Cyprus over foiled assassination plot

The Famagusta District Court in Paralimni decided on September 17, 2026, that two men, a 33-year-old Norwegian and a 35-year-old Irishman, must remain in custody until their trial. The defendants are facing serious charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, and participation in a criminal organization. They are scheduled to appear before the Permanent Assize Court of Famagusta on November 18, 2026.

The case involves a plot to assassinate British twin brothers Jamie and Aaron Small, who were vacationing in the Famagusta area during the summer. The investigation, supported by Europol and Danish police, revealed that a criminal organization attempted to hire a hitman via the dark web, unknowingly contacting an undercover Danish police officer. While the two main suspects remain in detention, six other individuals—one Norwegian and five Swedish nationals—were previously arrested in connection with the case and have since been deported from Cyprus.