Two Arrested for Allegedly Planning Terror Attack on Greek Synagogue             

By Matis Glenn

Two suspects were arrested by Greek police after allegedly planning terror attacks, including one on a synagogue.

The suspects, both of Pakistani origin, allegedly targeted a synagogue in central Athens, which also serves as a restaurant, and is frequented often by Israelis.

Greek media outlets say that the two were linked to an Iran-based international terror group, and were urged by an Iranian man who promised to pay them and urged them to go through with the attack.

The Greek Kathimerini reports that the terrorists were planning on using a gas explosive device in the attack, and were unable to find firearms. Kathimerini also reported that Greek police have kept tabs on members of the Pakistani community who are suspected of extremism, following two attempts at attacks on Israelis in Cyprus and Istanbul, in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Police say that the pair was planning to kill a large amount of people. They had chosen a target of “high symbolism,” and were making final preparations for the attack before the arrest. “Their aim was not only to cause the loss of life of innocent citizens, but also to undermine the sense of security in the country, while hurting public institutions and threatening (Greece’s) international relations,” police said in a statement.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that the Israeli Mossad assisted in discovering the terror plot.

“This is another attempt by Iran to promote terrorism against Israeli and Jewish targets abroad,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “After the investigation of the suspects began in Greece, the Mossad assisted in intelligence priming of the infrastructure, the methods of operation and the connection to Iran. As part of the investigation, it was revealed that the infrastructure that operated in Greece is part of a wide Iranian network that operates from Iran out in many countries.”

Other locations were marked as well, but details are not known as this time.

The Jerusalem Post cited a report by Israel’s National Security Council, which identified Iran as the main generator of global terrorism, particularly with regards to targeting Israeli citizens. The report said that Iran would continue “to work to promote damage to Israeli and Jewish targets around the world.”

The arrest was made by the Greek counterterrorism units, together with the Ministry of Defense; authorities say that the suspects seem to be linked to a global terror network, likely affiliated with Iran.

An unspecified “foreign intelligence agency” reportedly assisted in the arrest.

With reporting by AP