Cypriot authorities appear to have foiled an attempt to carry put a terror attack against Israelis, according to the newspaper Alithia, as quoted by Voice of Israel public radio Thursday.
The paper reported that security forces in Cyprus have foiled a plot by terrorists to strike Israeli targets – most likely ships carrying tourists.
According to the report, 100 grams of a powerful explosive were seized at the port of Limasol. The explosive is so powerful that a tiny amount can cause heavy damage, the paper explained.
The report added that the terrorists apparently meant to strike tourists when they arrived in Cyprus.
The report has not been confirmed by any other news source.
Last month, the Israeli Counterterrorism Bureau asked authorities in Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Thailand to step up security around Israeli tourists. “The terror campaign did not stop at Burgas,” the Bureau warned, citing the deadly attack on Israeli tourists in the Bulgarian tourist haven in July.
A few days before the Burgas attack, Cyprus authorities detained a man on suspicion of being involved in planning a terrorist attack.
Police spokesman Andreas Angelides said that police have “an individual in custody on possible charges pertaining to terrorism laws.”
State radio CyBC quoted an unidentified senior police official as saying that “Israeli interests” in the southern coastal town of Limassol were to be targeted.