Police and collaborating state agencies are continuing a highly classified investigation into the arrests of four Palestinian nationals suspected of plotting terrorist attacks against Israeli targets in Cyprus as retaliation for events in the Gaza Strip.
A 32-year-old and a 38-year-old suspect are in custody after being linked to large quantities of explosive manufacturing materials, alongside a 54-year-old and a 57-year-old suspected of acting as their accomplices. Information obtained by Phileleftheros indicates that the latter two individuals, arrested last week, have resided in Cyprus for many years and have reportedly secured Cypriot citizenship. This longevity has raised deep concern among authorities, who are scrutinising their backgrounds and contacts. Their eight-day remand expires today, and they are expected to appear before the Larnaca District Court in a closed-door hearing where police will request an extension of their detention.
In a separate closed-door hearing scheduled for Sunday, police are expected to request a second remand extension for the first two Palestinian suspects, who face charges of terrorism and membership in a criminal organisation. One of the two men reportedly admitted that the targets were Israelis, though he did not specify the exact locations of the planned attacks.
Investigators believe the 32-year-old and 38-year-old men held pivotal roles in the operation and are probing whether they cooperated with other individuals in Cyprus. The 32-year-old resident has been linked to a property at Governor’s Beach and an apartment in the Kamares area of Larnaca where he lived with his family. Explosive manufacturing materials, including ammonium nitrate, were uncovered at both locations. Authorities believe these chemicals may have been sourced from the local Cypriot market. The 38-year-old suspect, who was living in Cyprus illegally and is believed to have entered the government-controlled areas from the north, has also been linked to these materials.
The first major cache of explosive components was discovered at the Governor’s Beach residence on Thursday, 21 May. Two days later, a second large quantity was found during a surveillance operation at a second-floor apartment in Kamares. An official source confirmed that all seized materials have been sent for specialised forensic analysis, which is expected to conclude within the coming days.