Suspected Hamas Terrorist Arrested for Israeli Cruise Bomb Plot
Greek authorities detained a Palestinian man in Crete suspected of plotting to attack an Israeli cruise ship and allegedly receiving bomb-making training in Malaysia.
The 37-year-old electrician was apprehended on the island of Crete on Sunday after investigators determined he had placed online orders for chemical agents capable of being used in explosive devices, according to New York Post.
Law enforcement officials seized multiple cell phones, a laptop computer, external hard drives and bank cards during coordinated searches of properties in Crete and the Greek capital Athens. The suspect’s identity has not been publicly released.
He was expected to appear before a court later Sunday to face formal charges.
Wider Terror Network Under Investigation
The arrest comes as part of a broader counter-terrorism operation. The detained suspect allegedly maintained contact with one of four Palestinians currently under investigation in Cyprus on terrorism-related charges and allegations of membership in a criminal organization, officials stated.
Investigators believe the Greek suspect and his Cyprus contact traveled together to Malaysia, where they received training in manufacturing explosives using commercially available chemical compounds.
Cyprus Raids Uncover Bomb-Making Materials
Cypriot authorities initiated their phase of the investigation on May 22, arresting two Palestinian men after discovering materials authorities claim can be used to construct explosive devices in two separate residences.
Two additional Palestinian men were taken into custody in Cyprus on May 29 as the investigation expanded.
The coordinated arrests across Greece and Cyprus suggest a networked operation that security officials are treating as a significant terrorist threat to Israeli targets in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
With information from New York Post
