Twelve Israeli tourists were held in custody for eight days by a Cyprus court for the alleged gang rape of a 19-year-old British woman at a popular resort on the island.

The Israelis were arrested on Wednesday after the British teenager told police she had been raped at the hotel where she was staying at the Ayia Napa resort.

Doctors who treated the woman said they found bruises and scratches on her body.

The suspects, aged 16 to 18, were staying at the same hotel.

The young men covered their faces with their shirts when they arrived in handcuffs to the court in the nearby city of Paralimni, in southeastern Cyprus. One broke into tears. Some were accompanied by their parents.

The hearing was held behind closed doors because some of the suspects are minors.

A judge accepted a request from the Cypriot police to return the men in custody for eight days while an investigation into the rape complaint was initiated.

They have not yet been charged with any crime.

Three of the men allegedly raped the British tourist, while others filmed the attack on their mobile phones, according to local media reports.

Ioannis Habaris, a lawyer representing four of the suspects, told The Associated Press that it was not clear exactly how many of the men were implicated in the alleged rape.

He said there was "some evidence" that the British woman was involved in a "relationship" with one of the suspects.
Nir Yaslovitzh, an Israeli lawyer representing three other suspects, said the 12 teenagers had arrived in Ayia Napa in three separate groups.

Some had a vacation before being recruited into the Israeli army for compulsory military service.

He said the police were trying to expel the perpetrators from the group by arresting the 12 and arresting them.

"I think it's a trick," Yaslovitzh told AP. "They want to know how my customers will react."

The Foreign Office said the British authorities were "supporting a British woman who was assaulted in Cyprus and is in contact with the local police."