A 37-year-old Palestinian man arrested in Crete on Saturday on suspicion of Hamas membership is expected to be transferred to Athens on Sunday evening as Greek authorities expand an investigation into what they fear was a Hamas-linked cell with connections to suspects detained recently in Cyprus.
The arrest was carried out in a joint operation by the National Intelligence Service (EYP) and Greek Police’s counter-terrorism unit. The suspect faces charges of membership in the terrorist group Hamas, receiving terrorist training and traveling for terrorist purposes.
According to authorities, the man is linked to two Palestinians arrested in Cyprus in a separate terrorism investigation that has prompted heightened security cooperation across the eastern Mediterranean. Authorities believe the three formed a Hamas cell, with the Cyprus-based suspects occupying leadership roles.
Police said intelligence gathered by EYP indicated the suspect had connections to individuals recently investigated by authorities in another European country in terrorism-related cases. Investigators are also examining evidence suggesting he received training in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices.
According to local media reports, the suspect is originally from Gaza and is believed to have been recruited by Hamas there alongside one of the men later arrested in Cyprus. The two allegedly traveled together to Malaysia, where they received training at a Hamas camp in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices using commercially available materials, including chemicals, fertilizers and household products.
Authorities believe the suspect arrived in Greece from Gaza about a year ago after being granted asylum. No information was provided as to whether he arrived legally or illegally.
He subsequently lived and worked in the resort town of Agios Nikolaos on the large island of Crete, while allegedly maintaining contacts with the network under investigation.
Police said he also rented an apartment in Athens’ inner city Patissia district, which they believe was being used as a makeshift bomb lab. After information from the Cyprus investigation linked him to the Hamas network, he was placed under close surveillance for roughly two weeks before his arrest.
Police searches of properties in Crete and Athens led to the seizure of mobile phones, a laptop computer, data-storage devices, bank cards and laboratory equipment. Among the items recovered were a laboratory-grade precision scale and a magnetic stirrer with a heated plate, according to police.
Authorities say the suspect had also placed an online order for additional materials believed to be intended for explosive-making. Investigators allege the shipment had not yet been delivered when officers moved in to arrest him.
Greek officials have not publicly identified a specific target or disclosed evidence of an imminent attack. However, investigators are examining whether the group was preparing an operation against Israeli-linked interests in Europe.
Greek media reports have focused on the expected arrival of an Israeli-owned cruise ship in Crete this week, although counterterrorism officials cited by state broadcaster ERT reportedly consider it unlikely that the vessel was the intended target because the alleged bomb-making effort was not yet complete.
The case comes amid heightened vigilance across Europe over potential threats linked to the Gaza war and follows the recent arrests in Cyprus, where authorities said they had disrupted activities linked to suspected terror networks operating in the region.
