Crete: Palestinian arrested over alleged Hamas links and possible terror plot

A 37-year-old foreign national of Palestinian origin was arrested in Crete at midnight on Saturday, in a joint operation by the National Intelligence Service (EYP) and the Counter-Terrorism Directorate for Special Crimes of Violence (DAEEB). He is accused of involvement with Hamas, as well as receiving training, travelling and planning terrorist acts.

According to local and Cypriot media, he was planning an attack on Israeli targets, possibly involving explosives on a cruise ship.

Greek authorities say the 37-year-old is believed to have been in contact with individuals recently arrested in Cyprus as part of terrorism investigations.

During searches carried out at residences in Crete and Athens, the authorities seized, among other things, mobile phones, a laptop computer, data storage devices, bank cards and laboratory equipment such as liquid dispensers, chemical reagents, and precision scales. According to public broadcaster ERT, he is also believed to have ordered certain chemicals, which he had not yet received, with the aim of constructing a chemical bomb.

The same source, citing assessments by the authorities, reports that once all the materials had been assembled, the 37-year-old intended to meet the individuals arrested in Cyprus, and they planned to carry out their attack on European soil – exact location still unknown – with Greece among the possible locations and an Israeli-interest target.

The detainee is expected to be brought before the prosecutor while the investigation continues.

According to Cretalive, the 37-year-old had been living in the Agios Nikolaos area for almost two years and was working at a hotel. He had no family in Crete and, according to local sources, kept a low profile. He is reportedly in the country legally.

According to the news site Phileleftheros, the 37-year-old admitted that he had contacts with other individuals and took part in activities working toward carrying out a terrorist attack on Israeli targets in a European country.

It appears he was still at the preparation stage and did not yet have the necessary means to move to the next phase. The authorities believe that a cruise ship could have been the target; however, the plan had not advanced beyond the stage of gathering materials.

He is also believed to have already ordered some of the materials, but did not have time to make use of them.