Cyprus: 15 officers face probe on serial killer investigation

Cyprus' top lawyer said Tuesday he has ordered a criminal probe into how police handled the country's first serial killer investigation, which led to the conviction of an army officer for the murders of seven foreign women and girls.

Attorney General Costas Clerides said in a statement that 15 members of the force may have breached the law or been negligent in their duty.

Clerides said he launched the investigation after examining an Independent Police Complaints Authority report. The authority found some police actions went beyond mere oversights on the part of some police force members and "constituted the basis" for establishing that a criminal offense may have been committed.

Clerides provided no further detail, there were allegations at the time that police failed to take seriously initial missing persons reports about the victims.

The victims were...