Mossad and Greek investigators thwart terror plot by arresting Pakistanis

Greece arrested two men of Pakistani origin on Tuesday for plotting to attack a Jewish restaurant in central Athens and other Israeli targets like synagogues. According to Greek media both the men had entered Greece illegally from Turkey and had been residing in the country for the last four months.

The Greek authorities are also looking for a third accomplice who is believed to be in another country. The authorities have withheld the identities of the two arrested men till they complete their investigations.

A Greek news website quotes the police spokesperson as saying: “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”.

The suspects are believed to be members of an overseas terror organisation. The Greek police conducted multiple searches in Athens, southern Greece and on the island of Zakynthos.

The Greek police and National Intelligence Service were involved in the arrests, with support from a foreign intelligence service which has not been identified.

Highlighting the importance of the event, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office (PMO) issued a statement on Wednesday on behalf of spy agency Mossad about the Pakistani nationals arrested in Greece.

The PMO said: “The affair that was uncovered today in Greece is a severe case that was successfully thwarted by the Greek security forces. It was an additional attempt by Iran to perpetrate terrorism against Israeli and Jewish targets abroad”.

The statement further added: “… the Mossad rendered intelligence assistance in unraveling the infrastructure, its work methods and the link to Iran. The investigation revealed that the infrastructure that operated in Greece is part of an extensive Iranian network run from Iran and spanning many countries”.

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