Seven people arrested for attacks on Jewish targets

The Anti-Terrorism Service announced the arrest of seven suspects in connection with arson attacks on targets of Israeli interest in Athens.

The suspected perpetrators are accused of carrying out two arson attacks on June 15 and 8. The first attack was on an Israeli hotel on the corner of Mykonos and Aisopou in Psirri in central Athens, and the second on the Jewish synagogue a few meters away.

In the first incident, the windows of a restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel were smashed and clothes soaked in a flammable liquid were thrown inside, causing a fire. In the second incident, gasoline was poured into the entrance, causing another fire. In both incidents, the fire was quickly extinguished before it could cause any major damage.

The hotel incident involved two men and a woman who lost a cell phone while fleeing the scene, which helped authorities track them down. Counterterrorism officials also found video footage showing the suspected perpetrators.

A Greek, an Iranian and an Afghan were involved in the attack on the Jewish synagogue, which has also been the target of attacks in the past. Their identities were established based on video recordings, a stolen motorcycle found 100 metres from the attack site and an air pistol that the perpetrators lost during their escape.

Also involved in the case is an Afghan prisoner who is serving a prison sentence of several years for the murder of an Albanian citizen. He was arrested and extradited in Germany a year ago on the basis of a European arrest warrant issued by the Greek authorities.

One of those arrested stated that the Afghan prisoner had promised them a reward of 3,000 euros for carrying out the arson attacks.