ATHENS: Iran’s embassy in Greece denied any connection to an alleged anti-Semitic attack plot in Athens. That involving Pakistani Iranians on Wednesday.
“The embassy of the Republic of Iran strongly opposes the misinformation spread by Zionist sources. As well as their bogus charges against Iran,” it tweeted.
On Tuesday, Greek police apprehended two young Pakistani-Iranian nationals preparing attacks on Israeli-frequented places in central Athens.
The source stated the men targeted a Jewish eatery and prayer centre.
Police spokeswoman Constantia Dimoglidou told AFP the cell’s “mastermind” is “a Pakistani who lives outside Europe”.
An anonymous police source said the person lived in Iran.
Israel claimed Mossad prevented an attack and blamed Tehran.
“After investigating the suspects in Greece, the Mossad helped untangle the network’s intelligence. As well as their operational methods, and ties to Iran,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
“The investigation revealed that the infrastructure in Greece was part of a broad Iranian network, operated from Iran towards many countries,” a statement said.
Some Greek reports have questioned the case because the Pakistani suspects were farm labourers detained in February for not having residency papers.
Moreover, Leftist daily Efsyn headlined “Olive grove ‘terrorists’.”
Friday brings a prosecutor for the two suspects.
Greece’s under-fire prime minister announced elections on May 21 amid public outrage over government failures in last month’s train crash that killed 57 people.
Last year’s wiretapping scandal has put pressure on Greece’s intelligence agency EYP.
Afterward, The Greek intelligence agency celebrated the identification of an accused Russian spy after she fled the country in March.