The investigations of the anti-terrorist and the EYP remain in full progress regarding the case of the two terrorists from Pakistan who were preparing a deadly attack in Greece, specifically in a Jewish restaurant in Psirri that also functioned as a synagogue.
The police investigation is focused on two points, the first being the yafka apartment in the center of Athens, where the 27-year-old and the 29-year-old Pakistani who have been arrested used to spend a lot of time.
The image that the police officers handling the case have is that in the said apartment the two Pakistanis were meeting their compatriots with the aim of forming a terrorist group. The contacts were made via WhatsApp and it is not yet clear how many of the Pakistanis who met with the two terrorists agreed to their proposals.
The Yafka apartment has already been searched by the Anti-Terrorist, while about 20 Pakistanis have already testified as the extent of the terrorist network that the 27-year-old and 29-year-old tried to set up is being investigated.
The second element that is being investigated by Anti-Terrorism and EYP is the contacts and “edges” that the two Pakistani terrorists had with arms smugglers from the field of criminal crime as finding weapons was the biggest request for the two arrested.
So far what has also been established from the examination and analysis of the mobile phones of the two Pakistanis is that they kept talking about murders and homicides while making references to specific persons, always of Jewish origin. This element, in fact, leads the analysts to the conclusion that the terrorists’ murderous plan was initially to attack the restaurant in Psirri and then to attack specific persons as well.
The whole plan, analysts say, was drawn up by the 30-year-old compatriot and neighbor of the two Pakistanis who was in Iran from where he directed them from Tehran.
He was the one who forced the two arrested men to carry out the attack with weapons, when there would have been more than 50 people in the restaurant. For every dead person they would “gas” they would get 15,000 euros. But the operation was postponed, as they were unable to find the weapons they were looking for and for this reason they turned to criminal channels.
It is noted that Pakistanis are described as particularly cruel people without any moral barrier and respect for human life. What they were interested in, say the analysts of the two services, is to kill as many people as they could to increase the amount of the bloody pay while they were also imbued with religious fanaticism.
Anti-Terrorist raids on hideouts of Pakistani terrorists in Liosia and Omonia
A police raid was carried out on a building near the Roma camp in Liosia, as it was the second hideout of the Pakistani terrorists who were arrested.
Nothing suspicious was found in the building, however, according to information, the specific point was a base for the Pakistanis.
According to information, the police have also brought in a large number of Pakistanis they found at the scene, and it is being checked if they are related to the case.
The authorities estimate that the arrested sought to recruit fellow citizens who would participate in the attack on the Jewish synagogue in the center of Athens.
In searches carried out in their homes, more than ten mobile phones, memory cards, sticks and two computers were found. Analyzing the clues in the forensic labs, the investigators found videos and photos as well as messages between the members of the terrorist organization that was planning both murders and kidnappings of Israeli citizens.
Israeli businessmen and people from the embassy on the list of terrorists? – What were they planning after the hit in the restaurant
The two Pakistanis, who were arrested as members of a terrorist network and who were allegedly planning an attack on a Jewish restaurant and synagogue in the center of Athens, prove to be tough.
They have reportedly not revealed anything to Counter Terrorism yet, keeping their mouths shut so far. Investigators look for answers on their phones, trying to learn details about how they would act and their next targets. In this context, they “dust off” the videos and photos found on their cellphones and analyze the conversations they had with their “guide” in Iran.
The two arrested are said to be linked to the “Kundz Force”, which is active in many countries and carries out attacks only on Jewish targets. According to the information so far, they were receiving instructions and directions from a compatriot in Iran, who had promised them that they would make a lot of money. Specifically, for each hit they would receive a fee of 16,000 euros.
Terrorist network: They were preparing multiple strikes, they had also targeted persons
The order was that the first strike should be the restaurant-synagogue in Psirri, which they would either blow up with gas cylinders or storm the store with weapons, since it was full of people, and thus cause a bloodbath.
Then, as he had told them, they would discuss murders of persons in Greece. In the conversations available to investigators, those involved do not mention specific individuals who would be targeted.
According to information, the investigators are sure that they would continue their action after the strike at Psirri’s restaurant, as they were also talking about other targets. In this context, they consider that it is possible that they tried to “hit” someone from the Israeli embassy or Israeli businessmen living and operating in Greece.
Criminal prosecution for forming and joining a terrorist organization against the two arrested
It is noted that the two Pakistanis, who were arrested in Sparta and Zakynthos shortly before carrying out an attack on a Jewish restaurant-synagogue in Athens, were prosecuted for the felony of forming and joining a terrorist organization.
Criminal prosecution was also brought against unknown persons for directing a terrorist organization as well as for the misdemeanor of inciting participation in a terrorist organization as the two arrested were receiving orders from a person who is abroad. The two accused were given a deadline to apologize on Friday.
Pakistani terrorists: The profile of the two arrested who will “strike” in the center of Athens – What their mobile phones “revealed”
When will those arrested accused of terrorism be pardoned?
The two arrested for terrorism were given a deadline until Friday, March 31, when they are expected to be brought before the regular investigator for their apologies.
The two arrested from Pakistan have been charged with forming and joining a terrorist organization.
At the same time, an unknown criminal prosecution has been brought for directing a terrorist organization (felony) and invitation to participate in a terrorist organization (misdemeanor), as the two arrested were allegedly receiving orders from a person who is abroad.
What was the goal?
The Gostijo restaurant in Psirri, located in the building of the Chabad Center, i.e. the building housing the Jewish Community Center in the “heart” of Athens, seems to have been the target of the two arrested.
When did they come to Greece?
According to information, the two people of Pakistani origin who were arrested, entered the country illegally from Orestiada four or five years ago.
The two arrested, according to information, are 27 and 29 years old and had been under the microscope of the authorities for at least three months.
They were arrested about a month ago for illegal entry and stay in the country and were detained for administrative deportation.
How did they survive?
During their stay in Greece they lived and worked doing mainly agricultural work in Zakynthos and Sparta.
In the last year they had come to Athens and were staying in a rented room in the Omonia area.
What did their cell phones “reveal”?
When they were arrested, their mobile phones, USB sticks and other items were confiscated and sent for examination to forensic laboratories. No weapon has been found so far.
From the investigation it became known that the two Pakistanis had a communication with their compatriot, who lives in Iran, and who gave them instructions on how to attack the Israeli restaurant-synagogue.
In fact, the arrested tried many times to recruit other compatriots, but without success.
The announcement of their arrest
The arrest of the two arrested was made by the EYP with the help of the Mossad. The announcement of EL.AS:
“Disruption of a terrorist network that was planning attacks in our country
After coordinated actions by the Greek Police and the National Intelligence Service (NIS), a terrorist network was dismantled that, with guidance from abroad, was planning strikes against carefully selected targets in Greek territory.
On the basis of information collected and processed by the National Intelligence Service, coordinated operations of the EYP and the Anti-Terrorist Service (D.A.E.B.) were carried out in various areas of the territory.
In the context of these coordinated actions of the two Services, two (2) foreigners were arrested, members of the terrorist-leadership, who were active abroad, as the “brains” of the network.
They aimed not only at the loss of innocent citizens, but also at undermining the country’s sense of security, simultaneously damaging its institutions and threatening its international relations.
Analysis of the seized information and digital data revealed and confirmed that the members of the network:
had already chosen as the target of the attack, a building of special semiotics,
had carried out the reconnaissance of the area and the planning of the attack,
had received final instructions to carry out the blow,
in implementation of these instructions, they were also looking for other persons for the best possible execution of their mission.
A criminal case file was opened, while in the morning hours of 03/28/2023, the arrested persons were brought before the Athens District Attorney and referred to an Investigator.
The investigations are continuing.”
Mossad’s help
A publication by the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post notes that the spy agency said it helped Greece analyze and decipher Iran’s operating procedures to solve the mystery of the impending crime and the method of operation of the terrorist organization involved.
“This is yet another example of Iran’s attempt to use terrorism against Israeli and Jewish targets abroad,” Israel’s intelligence service said.