EgyptAir hijacker detained for eight days

A Cyprus court has ordered the detention for eight days of an Egyptian man who admitted hijacking a domestic EgyptAir flight and diverting it to the island by threatening to blow it up with a fake explosives belt.

Police prosecutor Andreas Lambrianou said the suspect, whom authorities had earlier identified as 59-year-old Seif Eldin Mustafa, faces charges including hijacking, illegal possession of explosives, kidnapping and threats to commit violence.

Tuesday’s hijacking ended peacefully when police arrested the suspect after all 72 passengers and crew on board the Airbus A320 aircraft were released.