Eight new suspects from Pakistan are being heard in Greece in the investigation into a terrorist network suspected of planning attacks against Jewish targets in Athens, a police source said on Thursday (March 30th).
"The investigation into whether other people are involved is ongoing," the source told AFP.
These eight new suspects had already been detained for illegal stay in Greece and are, according to the national news agency ANA, in "close contact" with the two men arrested on Tuesday during the first raid of the authorities in this case.
The two Pakistanis, aged 27 and 29, from Iran, are suspected of planning an attack on a Jewish community building, frequented by Israelis, in central Athens and housing a synagogue and a kosher restaurant.
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On Tuesday, Greek police spokeswoman Konstantina Dimoglidou said the "mastermind" of the operation would be "a Pakistani who lives outside Europe." Another police source, who wished to remain anonymous, said the person lived in Iran.
Israel accused Tehran of being behind the network and said its intelligence service, Mossad, had prevented an attack. On Tuesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen thanked the Greek government and the National Intelligence Service (EYP) "for foiling the terror attack on Jewish and Israeli targets."
The Iranian embassy in Greece on Wednesday rejected any link to the case and denounced "baseless accusations".
In the run-up to Passover, a major religious holiday in early April, Greece has been placed on a list of countries subject to travel advisories issued by Israel's National Security Council.
With AFP
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