Law enforcement authorities in Greece and Cyprus are convinced they have averted a major terrorist strike against targets of Israeli interest following the arrest of a 37-year-old man in Crete and his connection to four suspects detained in Cyprus.
The 37-year-old Palestinian suspect appeared before a court in Athens yesterday, where he was charged with offences relating to participation and activity in a terrorist organisation. The suspect, an alleged member of Hamas, is accused of preparing a terrorist attack against a target of Israeli interests.
The Cyprus Intelligence Service and the Greek National Intelligence Service have been in constant communication for several weeks. Their cooperation intensified after establishing that the 37-year-old arrested in Greece was linked to four individuals previously arrested in Larnaca, who remain in custody.
Reports from Greek media indicate that the 37-year-old Palestinian was part of a three-member Hamas cell. His two accomplices arrested in Cyprus allegedly held leadership roles within the network. All three had received shared training from the organisation in manufacturing explosives.
The 37-year-old suspect arrived in Greece from Gaza approximately one year ago and had been granted asylum. He rented an apartment in the Patisia district of Athens, which he converted into a makeshift laboratory. Authorities placed him under round-the-clock surveillance over the last fortnight as soon as his involvement with Hamas was confirmed.
A search of the Athens apartment uncovered precision scales, liquid dosers and chemical reagents. Investigators discovered the suspect had ordered additional chemical materials, which he had not yet received, intended for the creation of a chemical bomb. Intelligence assessments suggest that once all materials were gathered, the two accomplices from Cyprus were planning to travel to Athens to execute a major attack on a target of Israeli interests on European soil.
Meanwhile, Cypriot police have confirmed local media reports that the son of one of the four suspects detained in Cyprus serves as a police officer. However, authorities clarified that there is no evidence of any involvement or wrongdoing on his part.
Intelligence from Cyprus triggers arrest
Information provided by Cypriot authorities proved to be the key factor in uncovering the suspect in Greece. Data secured during the terrorism investigation of the four individuals in Cyprus revealed the communication methods used by the network, leading police directly to the suspect in Crete. Subsequent searches of properties in Crete and Athens resulted in the seizure of mobile phones, a laptop, data storage devices, bank cards and laboratory equipment.
Specialized training in Malaysia
The 37-year-old arrested in Greece and one of the suspects detained in Cyprus allegedly received specialized training at a Hamas facility in Malaysia. Born in Gaza, where his wife and two children still reside, the 37-year-old was recruited by a Hamas operative.
Alongside one of the individuals now held in Cyprus, he was trained at a Hamas camp in Malaysia to manufacture synthetic explosive devices using commercially available chemicals. The individual who trained them is also believed to be their primary handler.
The suspect entered Greece in late summer 2023 for employment purposes. His political asylum status allowed him to travel legally within Europe. After renting the apartment in Patisia, he recently relocated to Agios Nikolaos, Crete, where he found seasonal work at a hotel.
The suspect became a target of interest two weeks ago due to his communications with one of the detainees in Cyprus. Intelligence tracking also revealed he had begun searching online for chemical substances suitable for bomb-making.
During prolonged interrogation, the suspect confessed to his recruitment by Hamas, his training in Malaysia and his efforts to gather bomb-making components. He claimed he was unaware of the specific target and was awaiting further instructions. While the necessary laboratory equipment was found in his Athens apartment, the raw chemical ingredients had not yet been delivered.
