Police and the fire service were called to the labour office in central Nicosia on Friday morning when a non-Cypriot spilled petrol on the floor and threatened to start a fire in a dispute over benefits, philenews reports.
The site said that according to first reports the man, who is Nigerian, had gone to apply for a benefit he said he was entitled to.
He was informed that he was not eligible because he had a job. He reacted by throwing petrol on to the floor and threatening to start a fire.
Police intervened and the man was escorted to the police station.