Peacekeepers banned from Cyprus resort

Tourist Jeremy Caprio: says he was beaten up by a British soldier

Troops from British bases in Cyprus have been banned from a tourist resort after allegations that an off-duty British soldier attacked a tourist.

Jeremy Caprio, 35, says he was beaten up by a British United Nations peacekeeper outside a nightclub in the resort of Ayia Napa.

Military police from the UN peacekeeping force are questioning a 20-year-old British soldier.

Mr Caprio, from Thornton, Lancashire, said the attack outside a nightclub in the resort of Ayia Napa was unprovoked. He said the soldier blinded him in one eye and broke his nose.

Doctors say it is unlikely Mr Caprio will be able to see with his right eye again.

A British bases spokesman said Ayia Napa would be out of bounds to British forces personnel for the next few days while authorities assess the attack and other incidents.

"We are initiating an analysis of statistics about what has been going on over the past few years to see if there is a pattern or trend of bad behaviour," said Captain Jon Brown.

In 1994, the British bases banned visits to Ayia Napa after the arrest of three soldiers over the death of Danish tour guide Louise Jensen, 23. The soldiers are serving life sentences for manslaughter at Nicosia central prison.

Similar restrictions were imposed last year when off-duty soldiers attacked British tourists.