Fifth suspect arrested over planned Cyprus terror attacks

Local CrimepoliceterrorismTop News Fifth suspect arrested over planned Cyprus terror attacks 762551178 27908491662115843 4806221263403115775 N Relevant News Fifth suspect arrested over planned Cyprus terror attacks 5 August 2026 UK finds AI models tried to trick coders into cyberattacks 5 August 2026 University of Cyprus to build 890 parking spaces, solving longstanding problem 5 August 2026 Natasa Christoforou 5 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Police arrested a fifth person within July over the terrorism case uncovered last May, a 32-year-old Palestinian man who was living in Cyprus, philenews has learned. This had not previously been disclosed. The case originally came to light with the arrest of two Palestinian men, aged 32 and 38, allegedly linked to a Hamas network, who were found to have been preparing terrorist attacks in Cyprus. A 54-year-old Palestinian man with Cypriot citizenship was arrested next, and on July 18 it emerged that a 41-year-old man living in Indonesia, alleged to have directed the network, had also been arrested. According to information gathered by philenews, the fifth suspect had a registered address in Limassol and allegedly arranged the first 32-year-old’s transfer to Turkey, and reportedly made the trip himself. As Phileleftheros has previously reported, alongside trips to Malaysia, where witness accounts point to the presence of a Hamas training site, there was also a trip to Istanbul, during which a wanted individual allegedly gave the first 32-year-old instructions for the planned attacks in Cyprus. All five due back in court Thursday The five suspects will appear in court again on Thursday for a new referral hearing ahead of a full trial before the Permanent Criminal Court of Larnaca. According to sources familiar with the case, in order to place all five suspects on the same indictment, the three previously filed cases will be suspended and a new referral made. This is essentially a formal procedure to merge the three existing cases into one. How the case first came to light The case first came to light on May 21, when, under conditions of strict secrecy, the 32-year-old and the 38-year-old were arrested at a house near Pentakomo. The first man had been living with his wife and child in Larnaca and is alleged to have been linked to two properties, in Pentakomo and Kamares in Larnaca, where large quantities of hazardous substances and equipment for making explosives were found. The 32-year-old allegedly admitted he was recruited by a Hamas member, that he received instructions to buy materials for making explosives, and that he photographed targets in Cyprus. After he purchased a large volume of chemicals and equipment, the 38-year-old Palestinian, a physics teacher, entered Cyprus illegally, allegedly in order to build the explosive devices, according to what the 32-year-old told investigators. The 54-year-old man with Cypriot citizenship, who has four children serving in the Republic’s security forces, was arrested next. He is alleged to have received packages containing hazardous substances and denies any involvement in the case. He was initially released on conditional bail, but the Court of Appeal overturned that decision and ordered his detention. As for the 41-year-old arrested in Indonesia and deported to Cyprus, he is alleged to be the mastermind behind the planned attacks in Cyprus. He is reported to have initially lived in Malaysia and to have instructed the other network members on making explosive devices, with the aim of striking Israeli targets within the Republic of Cyprus. The five defendants face serious charges, including terrorism, conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, money laundering and participation in a criminal organisation. It is also worth noting that a 37-year-old Palestinian man arrested in Crete, who allegedly belongs to the same network and is accused of preparing terrorist attacks on Greek soil, is reported to be linked to the same case. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News UK finds AI models tried to trick coders into cyberattacks University of Cyprus to build 890 parking spaces, solving longstanding problem Moonless skies set to boost Perseid meteor shower over Cyprus German police investigate drone found at Leipzig airport, DHL operations affected US and Iran having ‘very good discussions’, Trump says Afghan boxer accused of killing British woman in Athens to appear in court Hats off to our firefighting crews Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.