JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Mossad has assisted Greek authorities in exposing and foiling an Iranian terrorist cell, according to a statement by the Israeli prime minister’s office as reported in the Jerusalem Post.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The unusual announcement about the normally furtive security agency’s activities stated that the Mossad had provided information enabling the Greeks to take apart Iran’s operating procedures and solve the puzzle of the underlying crimes and method of operation of the terror organization involved.
Earlier on Tuesday, Greek police foiled what they called a foreign terrorist network operating within the country and arrested two foreign nationals.
According to both the Mossad and AFP, the terrorists were plotting to attack Israelis in Greece.
“This is another example of Iran trying to use terror against Israeli and Jewish targets overseas,” said the Mossad.
The two terrorists arrested were reportedly two Pakistani nationals, with the third operative activating them suspected of being located in Iran. The Iran-based operative had reportedly urged them to carry out the attack and said they would be paid.
The terrorists planned to strike a target of “high symbolic value”: A Jewish synagogue, which also functions as a restaurant, located in the center of Athens, Greek media reported.
According to a report in the Greek daily Kathimerini, the terrorists planned to attack with a gas cylinder explosive, being unable to find firearms.
According to Greek media reports cited by Israel’s KAN public broadcaster, the terrorists also planned on kidnapping some of the targets.
The restaurant-synagogue in central Athens that was attacked by two Pakistanis was described by a local rabbi as a place where dozens of different people visit every day.
The rabbi said that around 70 to 80 people visit the restaurant every day. There is a synagogue upstairs in the restaurant, showing the magnitude of the tragedy that was happily avoided.
The rabbi said he was shocked by the revelations while expressing his thanks and gratitude to the Greek authorities for arresting the two Pakistanis.
“People all over the world have been told what happened here. We are very happy that these two terrible people who wanted to destroy lives were arrested by the Greek authorities with the help of the Israelis,” said the rabbit.
“I can’t believe my life was threatened when I came here to pray yesterday,” he said.
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen thanked the Greek authorities and secret services for foiling the terror attack. Cohen said that “Terrorism is our common enemy and the fight against it is of paramount importance for us. The ayatollah regime in Tehran is exporting terror to the Middle East and the entire world and only a firm joint stand can curb Iran’s terrorist activities.”