Nigerian Arrested with Knife as Pope Francis Celebrates Outdoor Mass in Cyprus

• 43-Year-Old Nigerian Arrested with Knife as Pope Francis Celebrates Outdoor Mass in Cyprus

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Police in Cyprus on Friday arrested a middle-aged Nigerian man for carrying a knife during security screening at an outdoor stadium where Pope Francis was conducting mass.

According to a report by Nigeria Broad, two security sources revealed that the knife was discovered during security screening of thousands of people attempting to get entrance to the stadium.

This was despite the fact that officials took extensive security preparations and that most participants had to be at the location hours early.

However, officials claimed the knife-carrying event appeared to be unrelated to the pope’s stay on the island.
“After an investigation, it appears that the two are unrelated, there was no intention to do something,” one source said, while a second said the knife was thought to be for personal use.

Earlier, a police official said the man concerned was a 43-year-old Nigerian national.

Pope Francis, on a three-day visit to Cyprus, called during Friday’s mass for healing on the divided island.

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