Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has intervened in the case of the shocking killing of young estate agent George Low.

George, 22, was killed on his last day on holiday in Cyprus in August. A friend he was with was also attacked, but survived.

George was an immensely popular and talented sales negotiator in Dartford, Kent, employed by the Acorn Group. Colleagues throughout the company have been shattered by his loss.

Yesterday, the case was raised during Prime Minister’s question time in Parliament, with Theresa May revealing that Johnson has raised the matter with the Turkish Cypriot authorities.

Two suspects have been arrested, but not handed over by the Turkish authorities.

May told MPs yesterday: “I’m sure all of us across the House would want to send our deepest sympathies to the family of George Low and our very best wishes to Ben Barker for a full recovery from the terrible injuries that he suffered as a result of what was a violent and completely unprovoked attack.”

She said that Johnson had raised the case with the Turkish Cypriot authorities during his visit to Cyprus on November 30.

“He clearly set out our desire to see those guilty of this attack brought to justice,” May said.

Her comments followed the circulation of a petition on Monday, calling on the British government to pressure the Turkish authorities to hand over the two suspects to stand trial for murder.

Low and Barker were allegedly attacked by two men armed with knives who then fled. George died following a blow to his throat which severed his carotid artery. Ben, who was stabbed in the back four times, survived.

The two suspects had then crossed to the north where they were arrested a few days later, and were put on trial in the north by a Turkish military court on charges of illegally trespassing into a military zone.

However, neither was charged in connection with the killing.

Arrest warrants issued by Cyprus police for the two men – Mehmet Akpinar, 22, and Sali Musa Ahmet, 43 – are still outstanding, with authorities in the north refusing to hand over the two fugitives despite reports that the two had admitted to their involvement.

The petition urges both the UK government and the EU to act, saying: “In August 2016, George Low and his friend Ben (Barker) were attacked while on holiday in Cyprus. George was killed and Ben seriously injured. The two attackers then fled to the unrecognised state of the TRNC and were arrested. Up to now Turkey has refused to hand them over to stand trial.”

It says of the suspects: “One is already free and the other will be in less than a year. After this they will both be free to live their lives with no consequences for the crimes they committed in Cyprus.”

Last week one of the two men, who reportedly confessed to the killing of Low, was jailed for a year in the north after admitting to violating a military zone.

Akpinar, who was also awaiting trial on charges relating to the trespass, was released days earlier, after serving the three-month sentence he received while in custody.

Acorn Group pays moving tribute to George Low after senseless murder