Three Iranians Arrested in Greece for Arson of a Hotel and a Synagogue

Three Iranian citizens have been arrested in Greece on charges of setting fire to a Jewish synagogue and a hotel owned by Israelis. According to Reuters, the Greek anti-terrorism police stated on Thursday, July 5, that two Iranian men aged 36 and 43 were identified and arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack on the hotel owned by Israelis in Greece, and a 30-year-old Iranian man was arrested in connection with the attack on the Jewish synagogue in Athens. The anti-terrorism police reported that four others, including two Afghan men aged 26 and 44 and two Greek citizens, including a 25-year-old woman and a 44-year-old local man, were arrested on charges of complicity in these two attacks. The charges against these individuals include throwing incendiary bombs at a hotel owned by Israelis in Athens, the capital, and then at a synagogue in the center of the city. The anti-terrorism police stated that these attacks had a 'racial motive' and could endanger lives and damage the property of foreign residents in Greece. The attack on the hotel, which is owned by Israelis, occurred on May 15 of this year. The hotel also has a restaurant that was damaged by the incendiary bomb. The synagogue in central Athens was targeted with an incendiary bomb on June 19, causing damage to the building of this religious site. The suspects, who were riding a motorcycle, threw the incendiary bomb at the synagogue while moving and fled. Greece, which had a large Jewish population until a few decades ago, has several synagogues. The police reported that weapons were also seized from the attackers. Theft is among other charges against this group. The police did not disclose the names of the detainees. Of the seven arrested individuals, two were temporarily released with restrictions until their trial. Earlier this spring, Greek police also arrested two individuals on suspicion of membership in a group for the bombing of a restaurant owned by Israelis in Greece or the arson of the same synagogue that was targeted on June 19. The Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence and operations agency, praised Greece for thwarting attacks on Israeli and Jewish property. This agency accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of organizing these operations. Since the onset of the Gaza war, Israel has strongly advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Turkey and several other countries due to the increase in anti-Semitic actions and the likelihood of being targeted, yet during this period, Israeli travel to Greece has increased. Anti-Semitic activities across Europe have significantly increased since the beginning of the Gaza war. Large demonstrations in support of Palestinians were held in Greece during the months of the Gaza war. However, Israel suspects the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of attempting to strike at Jews and Israeli interests anywhere.