The key man of the Hamas network in Cyprus is said to have been the 32-year-old Palestinian, who has been in our country with his wife and child for many years. The accused confessed that he was recruited by a member of Hamas, that he received instructions to buy materials for the manufacture of explosives and that he photographed targets in Cyprus. When he was supplied with a large volume of chemicals and equipment, the 38-year-old Palestinian, who is a physics teacher, illegally arrived in Cyprus with the purpose, according to what the 32-year-old said, to make the explosive devices. Their plans, however, remained unimplemented when the Cypriot authorities received relevant information and arrested them on May 21, in an area near Pentakomo.
Since then, a very serious case began to unfold, for which the 54-year-old, a Palestinian with Cypriot citizenship, was also arrested, who, as his colleague Fanis Makridis revealed to "F", has four children in the security forces of the Republic. The 54-year-old allegedly received some packages of dangerous substances on behalf of the 32-year-old and denies any involvement in the case. His brother was initially arrested for the case, who was eventually released, since nothing came of it against him.
As it is known, the 32-year-old was connected to both houses, the one in the Governor's Beach and the one in Kamares, Larnaca, in which large quantities of dangerous substances and equipment (including dosing meters) for the manufacture of explosives were found. The accused, according to reliable information from "F", was however also connected to a third house in Kolossi, to which it was found that the person who recruited him sent packages.
The 32-year-old reportedly confessed that the Hamas member, who lives in Malaysia, approached him and offered to help him financially. He allegedly went abroad four times where he received instructions to buy objects and substances with the aim of making explosives. One of these trips was to Malaysia and another to Istanbul and is under the microscope of the authorities. The 32-year-old seems to have admitted that the Palestinian asked him to take specific photos of various places in Cyprus and that he told him that he would send him a monthly salary for his services. Subsequently, as the 32-year-old allegedly confessed, the 38-year-old arrived in Cyprus because he knew how to make explosives.
A 38-year-old physics teacher, who lived at home in the Governor's Coast, was found to have entered the free areas, through occupied territories, a few days earlier and that he was living in Malaysia with his family. He denied any involvement in the case and claimed that he came to Cyprus to seek asylum. He said that he had met the 32-year-old in Malaysia two years ago and that the latter would host him. Despite his claims, the accused was reportedly named by the 37-year-old who was arrested last Saturday in Agios Nikolaos, Crete, who was allegedly preparing terrorist attacks on Greek soil. Specifically, the 37-year-old claimed that together with the physics teacher they were trained in the manufacture of explosives in a Hamas camp in Malaysia.
The three Palestinians were brought yesterday, under draconian security measures, before the Larnaca District Court and in a closed-door procedure they were referred to a direct trial before a Criminal Court that will meet on August 6. The 54-year-old objected to his detention and the court reserved his decision for today. The other two arrested did not object to their detention.
The seriousness of the case is also demonstrated by the very serious indictment. The defendants face charges of, among other things, terrorism, conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, money laundering and participation in a criminal organization.
