Greek authorities arrested two Pakistanis of Iranian origin on Tuesday, accusing them of planning anti-Semitic attacks in central Athens. Israel claims Iran is behind the plot, targeting Israeli and Jewish locations abroad.
According to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, contributed to unraveling the network, its operational methods, and links to Iran.
Greek police spokeswoman Konstantina Dimoglidou identified the cell’s mastermind as a Pakistani living outside Europe, with a police source stating the individual resides in Iran. Greek police and the National Intelligence Service coordinated to dismantle the terrorist network, planning attacks on selected targets within Greece.
The two arrested men, aged 27 and 29, allegedly targeted areas frequented by Israelis in central Athens, including a building housing a synagogue and a Jewish restaurant. The Greek Jewish community numbers around 5,000, and the government maintains strong relations with Israel, including security and military agreements.
Greece has not experienced any terrorist attacks in recent years. The suspects are accused of attempting to undermine state security and international relations.
The announcement comes as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for elections on May 21 following a train tragedy that killed 57 people and sparked public outrage over government failures.
