Greek authorities arrest Palestinian-origin man in Crete over alleged terror plot

Greek authorities have arrested a 37-year-old foreign national of Palestinian origin in Crete over alleged links to Hamas and suspected planning for a terrorist attack. The arrest took place at midnight on Saturday in a joint operation by the National Intelligence Service and the Counter-Terrorism Directorate for Special Crimes of Violence. Investigators say the case involves possible preparations for an attack on Israeli-interest targets, with a cruise ship among the reported possibilities.

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Authorities believe the suspect had contact with people recently arrested in Cyprus in separate terrorism investigations. During searches at residences in Crete and Athens, officers seized mobile phones, a laptop, data storage devices, bank cards and laboratory equipment. The items included liquid dispensers, chemical reagents and precision scales, which investigators say may have been connected to preparations for a chemical bomb.

Public broadcaster reporting cited by the authorities also says he had ordered some chemicals that had not yet been delivered. The detainee is expected to appear before a prosecutor while the investigation continues. According to local reporting, he had been living in the Agios Nikolaos area for almost two years and was working at a hotel.

He is also reported to have been in the country legally and to have kept a low profile. Investigators have not said that any attack was carried out, and the plan is understood to have remained at the preparation stage. The case matters because it links a domestic arrest in Greece to a wider counter-terrorism investigation that also involves Cyprus.

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It also raises concern about possible targeting of Israeli interests in Europe, including transport-linked sites such as cruise ships. For Greek authorities, the seizure of electronic devices and chemical-related materials suggests they were acting on intelligence before any alleged plot could move beyond planning. The investigation appears to centre on coordination between intelligence and counter-terrorism units, as well as on the suspect's alleged contacts abroad.

Reporting cited by the authorities says he may have intended to meet the individuals arrested in Cyprus once the materials were assembled. That account suggests investigators are treating the case as part of a broader network rather than an isolated incident. The mention of Hamas links also gives the case a wider political and security dimension, although the exact nature of those alleged links has not been fully detailed in the material provided.

What remains unclear is the full scope of the alleged network, the exact target, and whether any other arrests will follow. It is also not yet clear how far the suspect had progressed in obtaining the materials he is said to have ordered. The next key step will be the prosecutor's review and any further disclosures from the ongoing investigation.

#Greece #Crete #Hamas #counterterrorism #Cyprus

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