Eight new suspects from Pakistan are being questioned in Greece in an investigation into a terrorist network suspected of planning attacks on Jewish targets in Athens, a police source said on Thursday.
“Investigations to determine if other people are involved are ongoing,” the source told AFP.
These eight new suspects had already been arrested for illegally staying in Greece and would be in “close contact” with the two men arrested in the authorities’ first crackdown on the case on Tuesday, according to national news agency ANA.
The two 27- and 29-year-old Pakistanis from Iran are suspected of planning an attack on a Jewish community building frequented by Israelis in central Athens, which houses a synagogue and a kosher restaurant.
On Tuesday, Greek police spokeswoman Konstantina Dimoglidou told AFP that “the brains” of the operation will be “a Pakistani living outside of Europe.” Another police source, who wished to remain anonymous, said the person lives in Iran.
Israel accused Tehran of being behind the network and said its intelligence agency, the Mossad, helped stave off an attack. The Iranian embassy in Greece on Wednesday denied any connection to the case
Ahead of Passover, a major religious holiday in early April, Greece was added to a list of countries subject to Israel National Security Council travel advice.