British woman who claimed 12 Israelis raped her is arrested on suspicion of making false claim, suspects released from custody

Greek Cypriot police on Sunday arrested a 19-year-old British woman who claimed she was raped by 12 Israeli tourists in Ayia Napa two weeks ago.

The woman allegedly confessed that she had made a false rape claim, cited police sources.

Cypriot authorities arrested 12 Israeli teenagers on July 18 following the woman's report of being raped by a dozen individuals at a hotel in the popular tourist resort of Ayia Napa where she and the Israelis were staying.

Seven of the teenagers given a new six days remand on Friday were freed from custody on Sunday after five were released on Thursday after investigators found no evidence implicating them.

The 19-year-old British woman admitted her report of being raped by a dozen people was untrue, a lawyer and Cypriot officials said.

A lawyer for two of the Israelis said the woman was arrested and faces a public nuisance charge. 

Investigators concluded the accuser's allegations "didn't stand to reason," lawyer Yiannis Habaris said.

A report by The Associated Press said the woman voluntarily recanted during questioning just after midnight, saying there had been sexual contact with the suspects but she wasn't raped.

State-run Cyprus News Agency reported that the woman allegedly told investigators she filed a rape report because she was "angry and insulted" that a number of the Israelis allegedly recorded video of her having sex with some of them.

Their ages range from 15 to 18.

As the Israeli teens were released from police district headquarters in the town of Paralimni hours later, jubilant relatives were there to greet them with hugs and kisses. Some of the youths carried suitcases and got into waiting cars that drove them away.