Four Greek Cypriot soldiers appeared in court yesterday accused of pointing laser beams at passenger planes flying into the Mediterranean island's largest airport.

The four conscripts in the Greek Cypriot National Guard were arrested on Thursday after a police probe into a string of incidents this week at Larnaca airport in southeastern Cyprus.

"We could have had an air tragedy which is why this phenomenon has to be stamped out," Larnaca's deputy police chief Angelos Karadjias told state radio.

The four men, aged between 18 and 20, were remanded in custody for two days by a Larnaca court accused of "a thoughtless and negligent act in violation of civil aviation law."

Local police recorded four separate laser attacks on low-flying passenger jets on the island this week, including a police helicopter and a Greek passenger jet.