ATHENS – Greece’s anti-terrorism police arrested seven people for arson over firebomb attacks on an Israeli-owned hotel and synagogue in the center of the capital that came during growing protests over Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip.

It wasn’t said if the attacks were directly attributed to Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists who killed more than 1200 people in October, 2023 raids in Israel, with the retaliation killing at least 38,100 Palestinians trapped in Gaza.

A 25-year-old Greek woman, two Iranians, aged 46 and 36, and an Afghan accomplice, 44, were arrested over a May 15 attack with a makeshift incendiary bomb on a building housing an Israeli-owned hotel and restaurant.

The four were accused of arson that could potentially put human lives at risk and of causing damage to foreign-owned property in a racially motivated attack, said Reuters, but no names were given.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/greek-police-arrest-7-over-attacks-against-israeli-hotel-and-synagogue/

In another incident on June 18, a 44-year old Greek man and a 26-year-old Afghan rode near a synagogue in Athens on a motorcycle and threw flammable material at its entrance causing fire, police said. A police official said a 30-year-old Iranian had been arrested as their accomplice.

The three were accused of arson, gun possession and robbery among other violations, the official added. Police have seized evidence including mobile phones found in a residence in Athens and a prison.

But only five of those arrested have been detained and two have been released on restrictions while awaiting trial, said Reuters, no explanation given the severity of the charges and anti-terrorism police being involved in the hunt.

In March 2023, Greek police arrested two men suspected of being members of a group that planned an arson or bomb attack against an Israeli restaurant and the same synagogue in Athens. The Mossad praised Greece for foiling the attack, accusing Iran of orchestrating the operation, the report added.