Man arrested in Cyprus planning attack on Israeli targets

Cypriot police are questioning a 24-year-old Swedish citizen of Lebanese origin, arrested last week, who may have been plotting an attack against Israeli targets on the island, media reported on Saturday.

A spokesman for the Cyprus Police refused to confirm or deny the information because what he called the "sensitivity of the case." He told AFP that the matter is "a security issue that we consider very seriously and therefore we can't make further comments."

According to local press reports, the suspect found with photos, information about Israeli targets on the island.

According the Associated Press, Cypriot police was alerted by foreign intelligence services after the Lebanese arrived in Cyprus as a tourist. The man was arrested in his hotel room a week ago.

State television reported, without providing further details, that agents of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service, had provided information on the suspect to the Cypriot authorities. He appeared in court Friday and was kept in custody for seven days, the television added.

According Sigma TV's website, the man had arrived on the island to prepare an attack against a plane or a bus. The daily Phileleftheros noted that details about the schedules of Israeli aircraft were found in his possession. State radio reported that he was staying in the coastal town of Limassol and took pictures of Israeli interests.

In response to the reports from Cyprus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to denounce the "Iranian terrorism" after this arrest. "The Iranian terrorism has no borders. After Iran sent its men to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States, its attacks in Azerbaijan, in Bangkok, Tbilisi, New Delhi and Africa, it has now revealed its intention to perpetrate a terrorist attack on the soil of Cyprus," said Netanyahu in a statement issued by his office.

In February 2012, a series of attacks targeted Israeli interests in Azerbaijan, Thailand, Georgia and New Delhi. The Israeli government had accused Tehran of masterminding the attacks using agents of Hezbollah.

Earlier this month, officials in Nairobi reported that two Iranian terrorists who were arrested in Kenya were planning to attack Israeli, American, British and Saudi targets in the country.

Source: http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/14/226347.html