Mossad says it foiled Iranian-Pakistani attack on Israelis in Greece

Israel's Mossad spy agency helped Greece stop an Iranian cell planning to launch terror attacks against Israeli nationals in Athens, the Israeli prime minister’s office said on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Greek authorities revealed that they arrested two Pakistani nationals who were allegedly planning mass casualty terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets in the country.

The official statement said that Mossad had helped Athens in the “grave affair,” including uncovering links of the two Pakistani arrested suspects to Iran.

“After the investigation of the suspects began in Greece, Mossad assisted in unraveling intelligence of the infrastructure, the methods of operation and the connection to Iran,” the spy agency said. The suspects, it was claimed by Mossad, were part of a “wide Iranian network that operates from Iran and out of many countries.” 

“This is another example of Iran trying to use terror against Israeli and Jewish targets overseas,” it added.

The Greek police had released a statement hours earlier confirming that a terror cell was dismantled. "After coordinated actions by the Greek police and the National Intelligence Service, a terrorist network was dismantled which, from abroad, was planning strikes against carefully selected targets on Greek territory," the police said.

The cell's goal, it continued, 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 the network had "already chosen the target of the attack" and were planning how to execute it.

Unnamed Greek police sources told The Associated Press that the men were focusing on a building that houses a synagogue and a Jewish restaurant. Greek daily Kathimerini reported that the Pakistani terrorists planned to attack Israeli or Jewish targets with a gas cylinder explosive, being unable to find firearms.

In 2021, a Pakistani national was among those arrested in Cyprus for planning to kidnap and murder Israeli businessman Teddy Sagi. At the time, Israel accused Iran of involvement in the plot. Last June, the Mossad and its Turkish counterparts managed to foil three Iranian attacks targeting Israeli civilians in Istanbul.