Two persons were remanded in police custody on Thursday on suspicion of involvement in a string of recent arson and attempted arson incidents.

Paphos district court ordered the two held in police custody for eight days.

The suspects are a 19-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman.

They are suspected of multiple offences, including conspiracy to commit a felony, arson and attempted arson, participation in a criminal organisation, and money laundering.

The 19-year-old is said to have admitted to having been paid €1,000 to set fire to premises and vehicles.

However he has not named the person who paid him the money.

The cases under investigation in Paphos include two incidents of setting fire to vehicles on March 25 and April 6, the setting of fire at a cafeteria on Agapinoros Avenue on April 4, and an attempted arson against the same cafeteria that took place this Wednesday.

The arrests came after police on Wednesday morning spotted a rental car with fake license plates parked outside the cafeteria that had recently been targeted by arsonists.

Those inside the rental exited the vehicle, carrying a bottle and a bat. They headed for the cafeteria, but fled the scene once they noticed the police officers there.

Police gave chase to the car, which ended up in a village in Nicosia district. The vehicle was found parked outside a residence inhabited by the 41-year-old woman. She admitted to having rented the car, but denied any involvement in the arson incidents.

Shortly later on Wednesday, police tracked down the 19-year-old and proceeded to arrest him. The young man resisted arrest and struck a police officer in the face.