Terror plot against Jews in Athens: Pakistanis tried recruiting Kurds and Azeris, more arrests expected

The two arrested Pakistanis, identified as 27-year-old Hayder and 29-year-old Hussein, were arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Service for planning out an attack on a Jewish restaurant-synagogue in the central Athens neighbourhood of Psyrri.

The National Intelligence Service (EYP) of Greece is working at full throttle after a terror plot against Jews in Athens was uncovered, leading to the arrest of two Pakistanis, with more arrests expected.

The two arrested Pakistanis, identified as 27-year-old Hayder and 29-year-old Hussein, were arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Service for planning out an attack on a Jewish restaurant-synagogue in the central Athens neighbourhood of Psyrri.

The operation, which has the code name “Hyacinthos”, was launched by the Ministry of Defence last August following information about a possible attempt to create a terrorist cell in Greece.

The Israeli Mossad were also involved, providing expertise and important information, mainly about the “mastermind”, a 30-year-old Pakistani, who was allegedly giving directions from Iran.

According to EYP sources, cited by AMNA, in addition to the two Pakistanis who were arrested as members of the terrorist group, eight more of their compatriots, who had contacts with them, were arrested for administrative deportation as they were in Greece illegally.

The eight Pakistanis have come under the microscope of the Greek authorities because they come from the same region of Pakistan as the two accused and their 30-year-old leader in Iran and had close relations with Hayder and Hussein.