Five Palestinians sent to trial over alleged Cyprus terrorism plot targeting Israeli interests

Local terrorismTop Newstrial Five Palestinians sent to trial over alleged Cyprus terrorism plot targeting Israeli interests Ipothesi Tromokratias Larnaka Relevant News Five Palestinians sent to trial over alleged Cyprus terrorism plot targeting Israeli interests 6 August 2026 Why does life in Cyprus slow down in August? 6 August 2026 Limassol begins €9.2 million project to replace 100 kilometres of water network 6 August 2026 Natasa Christoforou 6 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Five Palestinians have been referred to trial before the Permanent Criminal Court over an alleged terrorism case in which they are accused of preparing attacks against Israeli targets in the Republic of Cyprus. The five men, aged 32, 33, 38, 41 and 54, will appear before the court on October 14 after three separate proceedings were combined into a single case. The referral hearing took place under strict security measures. They face 15 charges, including terrorism offences, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, participation in and acceptance of the commission of crimes, travelling outside the Republic for the purpose of committing a terrorism offence, possession of precursor substances for explosives without a permit, money laundering from illegal activities and providing support to a terrorist organisation. The charges carry penalties of up to life imprisonment. Alleged Hamas-linked network in Cyprus The five men are accused of conspiring during 2026 to provide support to Hamas, which allegedly assigned them a mission to target Israeli interests in Cyprus. According to the case against them, they were members of an organised network linked to the organisation, which recruited Palestinians to carry out attacks on European soil. The alleged training of the network’s cells took place in Malaysia. The 41-year-old, who lived in Indonesia and was arrested last July after being deported to Cyprus, is alleged to have been the head of the network in Cyprus. He is said to have initially lived in Malaysia and provided instructions to other members of the network. The 33-year-old is alleged to have been the key figure of the organisation in Cyprus and the person who carried out instructions. He has been linked to three properties in the Limassol and Larnaca districts. At a house in Pentakomo and an apartment in Kamaras, authorities found large quantities of dangerous substances and equipment for making explosives, according to the case. A house in Kolossi was also linked to packages containing materials for making explosives. Alleged roles of the accused According to his alleged statement, the 33-year-old said he was recruited by the 41-year-old, who offered to help him financially. He allegedly said he travelled to Malaysia and Istanbul to receive instructions from the 41-year-old, received a monthly salary and had taken photographs of various locations in Cyprus. The 38-year-old, a physics teacher, allegedly travelled to Cyprus from Malaysia through the north in May, after materials had been gathered in Cyprus, according to the case. He is alleged to have had the role of making explosives. The 38-year-old denies involvement and has said he came to Cyprus to seek asylum. He said he had met the 32-year-old in Malaysia two years earlier and that the latter would host him. According to Greek media reports cited in the case, the physics teacher was also named by a 37-year-old Palestinian arrested in early June in Agios Nikolaos, Crete, who is alleged to have been preparing terrorist attacks in Greece. The 37-year-old is reported to have claimed that he and the physics teacher received explosives training at a Hamas camp in Malaysia. The 54-year-old Cypriot citizen, who denies involvement, is alleged to have been the recipient of packages containing dangerous substances. The 32-year-old, whose arrest was revealed by philenews, is alleged to have organised the 33-year-old’s travel arrangements. He lived in Limassol and is alleged to have been named by the 33-year-old, who claimed he accompanied him on a trip to Istanbul. Additional legal details The 38-year-old also faces a charge relating to illegal entry into the Republic through the occupied areas. The 41-year-old faces a similar charge, with the case alleging that he travelled to Cyprus last May through an unauthorised port. He is alleged to have arrived only days before the arrests of the 33-year-old and 38-year-old on May 21 at a house in the Pentakomo area. The 54-year-old’s lawyer objected to his detention, but the court rejected the request. During the first referral proceedings, he was released on a €1 million guarantee, but the decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal, which ordered his detention. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Why does life in Cyprus slow down in August? Limassol begins €9.2 million project to replace 100 kilometres of water network Prisons union alleges violence, drugs and overcrowding at Central Prisons as Justice Ministry pushes back Italy on red alert, Hungary turns off the lights as Europe’s heatwave takes toll Greenpeace vigil commemorates Hiroshima and Nagasaki Palmas receives Kalo Chorio fire report as investigations continue 37-year-old suspect in €827,400 vehicle fraud investigation remanded for eight days Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.