Arrest of Hamas-linked suspect in Crete and connection to Cyprus terror investigation

On June 6, 2026, Greek authorities arrested a 37-year-old Palestinian man in Agios Nikolaos, Crete, on charges of participating in Hamas and planning terrorist acts. The suspect, who worked as an electrician in a hotel, admitted to training in Malaysia on manufacturing synthetic explosives and reportedly confessed to plotting an attack against a cruise ship carrying Israeli citizens. Investigations revealed he entered Greece in 2023 with asylum status and was monitored by intelligence services. His arrest is linked to a wider investigation involving four suspects in Cyprus, aged 32, 38, 54, and 57, who are also being held for terror-related offenses and possession of bomb-making materials, including ammonium nitrate. While the suspect in Greece identified Israeli targets for his planned attack, the suspects in Cyprus have not specified the location of their intended strikes. The Greek Counter-Terrorism Unit seized digital evidence and lab materials from his residence in the Patisia district of Athens. Police in Cyprus confirmed they are maintaining close international cooperation with Greek authorities to evaluate all information regarding these interconnected cases.