British Army peacekeepers at centre of a diplomatic incident after jetski smash sparked violent clash with locals

BRITISH Army peacekeepers were at the centre of a diplomatic incident after a jet ski smash sparked a violent clash with locals and a terrifying car chase in Turkish-held Cyprus.

An Army vicar was punched to the ground in the vicious brawl and car chase which triggered a UN lockdown over fears of copycat attacks.

Ten British squaddies working with the UN’s peace mission on the holiday isle went to Glapsides Beach in Famagusta on a day off with their army padre in tow.

But trouble flared with Turkish Cypriots who accused two of the soldiers of smashing hired jet skis and attempting to leave without paying for the damage.

And their UN vehicles were caught up in a “Fast and the Furious”-style high speed chase after the padre was repeatedly punched when violence erupted.

The Brits - in a clearly marked white UN minibus and Ford Ranger 4x4 - claimed they were threatened with a metal pipe after fleeing for their lives in the drama.

But locals were last night furious over social media claims that the squaddies were drunk and violent and attempted to flee without paying £11,000 damages.

UN officials were last night battling to calm tensions over the incident - eight days ago - as the president of Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar demanded action.

Eight off-duty Brits in t-shirts and shorts arrived at the beach in the minibus with two more servicemen and the padre in the Ford Ranger.

Two non-drinking designated drivers with the group rented jet skis - but the high-speed craft were damaged in a collision, sparking fury from watersports firm boss Cenk Akay, 39.

Mr Akay demanded £4,300 (Euro 5000) to repair the damage - and tempers flared when he called police after the squaddies said they did not have enough money with them to pay up.

The Brits claimed a mob of locals then surrounded them as they waited for cops warning they “would not leave the island alive.”

One of the British soldiers was punched in the head from behind and fell to the ground while the padre was repeatedly punched and fell as his comrades from 21 Engineer Regiment battled to block the onslaught, they claimed.

The Brits leapt into their vehicles in a bid to escape as furious locals tried to batter their way into the right front door of the Ford, army sources claimed.

A high speed chase then began with the minibus in front and the Ford behind with two locals in a car in hot pursuit - and a police car following with siren wailing.

The Ford's path was eventually blocked by the pursuing car and it was claimed the Brits were threatened with a metal pipe.

But the driver of the Ford swerved clear and the chase continued - with vehicles colliding as they sped towards traffic.

The Ford eventually sought refuge by speeding through the main gate of a UN base where members of the group received medical treatment.

Sappers in the minibus also received treatment after losing the chasing car in traffic and fleeing to the British Army camp at Ayios Nikolaos.

UN investigators ordered an immediate probe into the incident - as Mr Akay posted pictures of his damaged craft on Facebook and lodged an official complaint.

'THEY WERE CRAZY'

Mr Akay told The Sun yesterday: “I warned the two soldiers to keep the jet skis 100 metres apart for their own safety but they ignored me and drove them like dodgems - they were crazy.

“Then after the crash they refused to give me their names and smiled. They said: ‘We’re with the UN - you can’t touch us.’

“I asked them to wait for the police but they drove away heading for the border into Greek Cyprus so I had no option but to give chase.

“They had wrecked two of my jet-skis and destroyed my livelihood but refused to stop - even with the police car following with its siren on. People could have been killed.

“They were arrogant, drunk and ill-disciplined and a disgrace to the UN and it’s no surprise this has become a diplomatic incident.”

Mr Akay - who launched his watersports firm after his restaurant business went bust owing to Covid - added: “I’m not a rich man but I am well known and popular and people are angry at how I have been treated.

“There will be serious repercussions if this matter is not resolved.”

Defence insiders hit back at his claims.

A friend of the soldiers insisted they behaved with “discipline composure and professionalism”.

A preliminary UN report into the incident warned it “could lead to deterioration of relations between the local population and members of the UN as well as damage to the good name of the UN.”

'DAMAGE TO UN'

It added: “The incident has been proceeded to UN HQ and to the highest political representatives of Northern Cyprus.

“President Tatar declared strong intention to solve this issue by the UN.

“We expect deterioration of mood of local inhabitants toward the UN, thus we are obliged to take a deep and serious investigation to conclude the matter as soon as possible.”

UN personnel were banned from recreational trips to Turkish north Cyprus - partitioned since the Turks invaded in 1974 - as fury continued to simmer last night.

UN spokesman Aleem Siddique said: “The UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus is aware of the allegations made and is investigating the incident.

“We need to complete this investigation before reaching any conclusions.

“All peacekeepers are required to meet the highest standards of conduct at all times and are held accountable for their behaviour.”

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Reports of events are disputed and we are confident that UK service personnel acted in an appropriate manner throughout.”