Greek police have averted a major terrorist attack on a Jewish center in Athens, thanks to the help of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad. Two Pakistani nationals were arrested in Athens by the Greek police for plotting to carry out mass-casualty terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets in Greece. Israel had warned Greece of an “imminent” attack, after providing information about the plot to its European partners.
Plot to Attack a Jewish Restaurant
The two men were planning an attack on a Jewish restaurant in central Athens, which is part of a Chabad House that includes a kosher restaurant. The suspects had conducted reconnaissance of the area, and had selected this target for its high symbolism. The police believe that the attackers wanted to inflict maximum damage by targeting a busy area of the historic center of Athens, especially since April 5-13 is the Jewish holiday of Passover when many Israeli tourists visit Greece. The two suspects had entered Greece illegally from neighboring Turkey and had been in the country for at least four months.
Iranian Terror Network
The Mossad spy agency helped Greek officials in the investigation and said that the two Pakistanis were part of an Iranian terror network. The Iranian regime is exporting terror not only to the Middle East but also to the Mediterranean and other parts of the world. Mossad is also working to thwart Iran-linked terror activities aimed at Israeli and Jewish targets in several other countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia, including the United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Bahrain.
Greek Antiterrorism Police Division
The investigation into the terrorists began in Greece after the arrest of two other Pakistani men suspected of planning attacks on Israelis last year. Greece’s antiterrorism police division and National Intelligence Service were involved in arresting these suspects as part of a wider crackdown on extremism. The Greek Public Order Minister expressed his gratitude to the country’s security authorities for maintaining a high state of readiness for all people in the country.
Assisted Operations by Mossad
Mossad provided intelligence assistance to unravel the infrastructure, its work methods and the link to Iran. Mossad helped Athens in uncovering intelligence of the infrastructure, the methods of operation, and their connection to Iran, according to a statement from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The suspects had selected a target of “high symbolism” and were making final preparations for the attack, according to Greek police. They had already received their final instructions to carry out the attack.
Charges Against Suspects
The suspects have been charged with terrorism offenses while a third man believed to be in Iran was charged in absentia with similar offenses. The two suspects are due to appear before a public prosecutor on Friday.
Rabbi Mendel Hendel, who runs the Chabad Jewish center, learned about the planned attack on the news and expressed gratitude that the act of terrorism was prevented. The Jewish community in Athens thanked the authorities for the arrests, and a terrorist attack against Jewish targets in a busy area of the historic center of Athens has been prevented.
Public Order Minister, Takis Theodorikakos, said it was likely that two suspects were offered money to carry out the attack and that the organizer they consulted with was a fellow countryman in Iran.
The Jewish community in Greece is one of the oldest in Europe, but most of its members perished during the Holocaust under Nazi occupation. Today’s announcement is reminiscent of an earlier era, and is an unwelcome reminder that anti-Semitic dangers remain,” Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in his statement.
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