The Greek Police and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) proceeded to dismantle a terrorist network in Athens in coordination with overseas intelligence which was planning strikes against carefully selected targets in Greek territory, including a Jewish synagogue. Based on information collected and processed by the National Intelligence Service, coordinated operations of the EYP and the Anti-Terrorist Service (D.A.E.B.) were carried out in various areas of the territory.
Authorities arrested two Pakistanis, 29 and 27 years old, as accomplices of the terrorist -leader, who was active abroad, as the “mastermind” of the network.
According to what emerged, their aim was not only to harm innocent citizens but also to undermine the sense of security in the country, simultaneously damaging its institutions and threatening its international relations.
Analysis of the seized information and digital data revealed and confirmed that the members of the network:
– had already chosen a building of particular significance as the target of the attack,
– had surveyed the area and planned the attack,
– had received final instructions for carrying out the attack,
– in the implementation of these instructions, they were also looking for other persons for the best possible execution of their mission.
According to police reports, the mastermind was a man wanted for murder living in Iran, who recruited and directed the two men aged 27 and 29 who had been living in Greece for the past five years, to carry out a series of targeted terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians.
The first target was a restaurant of Jewish interests in Psirri, which also functioned as a synagogue, and they had chosen to attack either with weapons, explosives, or by setting fire to establishment the time when there would be more than 50 people in the area.
A criminal case file was opened, and in the morning hours of 03/28/2023, the arrested persons were brought before the Athens District Attorney and referred to an Investigator. Investigations are ongoing.
