POLICE have arrested a Syrian man whom, along with a Lebanese national, had been chased by several residents from a Lakatamia, neighbourhood because they were ‘acting suspiciously’.

The second man was being sought yesterday, police said.

It all started when some of the residents of Ippocratous Street tried to find out what the two men were doing in the area.

The suspects fled and later abandoned their car, which was missing a front licence plate while the one at the back had been altered using tape.

Police, who arrived in the area meanwhile, located and arrested the Syrian man, who was later found to be residing on the island illegally.

Officers also located a replica pistol in the bushes, believed to have been dumped there by the suspects.

Police also found three screwdrivers in the backseat of the car.

When questioned by police, the Syrian suspect said he went there with the Lebanese man whom he did not know well, to tell a drug dealer to stop selling drugs to a friend.