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Swedish terror suspect detained in Cyprus

Published: 15 Jul 12 09:29 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/42028/20120715/

Cyprus police have detained a young Swedish man on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack against Israeli interests in the country, media reports said on Saturday.

The suspect is a 24 year-old man of Lebanese origin, reported daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN), and Sweden's Foreign Ministry (Utrikesdepartementet, UD) has confirmed the arrest.

A police spokesman said he could not deny or confirm the reports because it was a "sensitive political issue".

"This is an issue of security which we take very seriously and we cannot comment any further," the spokesman told AFP.

Online news website Sigmalive said the police were tipped off by foreign intelligence services and the man -- who came to Cyprus as a tourist -- was arrested in his hotel room last week.

It said the suspect appeared before a closed court for a second time on Friday where he was detained in police custody for another seven days.

Cyprus state television said Israeli intelligence agents had supplied information to the Cypriot authorities regarding the suspect. It did not elaborate.

Police are trying to unravel the level of involvement of the suspect, the intended targets and whether he had accomplices on the island.

According to Sigmalive the man arrived on the island to plan and orchestrate the blowing up of a plane or a bus. Local daily Phileleftheros said notes with details of Israeli aircraft were found in his possession.

State radio said the suspect was staying in the southern coastal resort of Limassol and took photographs of Israeli interests.

Police have made no official public statement about the arrest or the investigation.

Cyprus had seen attacks against Israeli interests in late 70s and early 80s, but since then the island has been viewed as neutral ground for unofficial Mideast peace contacts.

The 24 year-old has received legal representation, and his case will be followed by the Swedish embassy in Nicosia, reported DN.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

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10:58 July 15, 2012 by Uncle
"planning a terrorist attack against Israeli interests "

"According to Sigmalive the man arrived on the island to plan and orchestrate the blowing up of a plane or a bus"

I LOVE it when an airplane and bus filled with children, women, elderly and men who are screaming, burning alive and spraying pieces of melted brain on the walls are called "interests". Yep. Nothing more. An interest.

Why an interest? Because Israel will be interested in digging up the scorched bodies of 200 people.

There is nothing wrong with undermining an interest of an enemy, is there? Interests should be harmed. One, who is a left socialist cannot call a burning Jewish baby anything, but Israeli political interest, because if he would call the baby by what it is, then the legitimization of targeted civilian murder would be undermined wouldn't it?

Sneaky and seemingly truthful (after all, the info is there). The problem is that the real picture is buried deep inside the article, but the heading (which 85% of all readers stop reading) mentions only interests. Aftonbladet style journalism.
11:07 July 15, 2012 by Rod Munch
Sweden exporting terror. 30 years ago any Swede would have laughed at the thought. I wonder what has changed?
11:24 July 15, 2012 by rise
Ah, a so called nysvensk (new Swede) again... Love 'em and embrace 'em! :P
12:19 July 15, 2012 by Abe L
So it's a Lebanese man with a Swedish passport, not a Swede.

Please do not cloud the actual facts in political correct wording.
14:39 July 15, 2012 by OUIJA
Yes Abe # 14.

You are completely right. The guy is a Lebanese Holding a Swedish passport. But in Sweden, a dirty rat is a white rabbit just because it holds a rabbit passport. That is being politically correct. But Abe, when have you read, heard or seen Swedish media writing the real facts? Everything is hidden behind a smoke screen. This guy in Cyprus would have been a national hero if he had succeeded whith his plot. After that,many organizations would have fought for his inmediate release because, a Swede is always innocent until proven the opposite, but Assange is guilty as charged. Just ask the infamous Carl Bildt, or the more infamous Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose comments around the Assange case have proven to be hilarious and biased just to please Hillary Clinton and gang.
17:14 July 15, 2012 by haladeen
oh, it was a sweet, cute little "swede" again.
19:15 July 15, 2012 by strixy
Yes, but obviously it's only the RIGHT wing terrorism that is a REAL threat. Nevermind that they keep finding both Norwegians and Swedes training for acts of terrorism against Israel and in the name of Al Qaida... .
20:22 July 15, 2012 by Spuds MacKenzie
Hooray for the new multicultural Sweden! You reap what you sow, politically correct Sverige.
04:47 July 16, 2012 by Russ Cobleigh
So it's a Lebanese man with a Swedish passport, not a Swede.
08:16 July 16, 2012 by muscle
@abe l and RUs

According to your definition of citizenship. none of the americans are nationals of USA. Lol
17:13 July 16, 2012 by guliver
Well

He is Lebanese and used his Swedish Pass,

what is important that he was arrested before he could do anything bad.
01:05 July 17, 2012 by Uncle
"what is important that he was arrested before he could do anything bad."

No. What is important is that an active Hezbollah (or Revolutionary Guards) operative was able to get Swedish citizenship. THAT is what is important for SWEDEN. What also is important, is that this was a total surprise to Säpo, whereas other security agencies were capable of tracking him.

What is very important is that it is not the first time happening. What is extremely important, is that apparently Swedish immigration system is failing. What is important is a root cause analysis and replacement of the entire system, where immigrant Swedes, loyal to Sweden would sit in the places of 59 y/o tanter in Migrationsverket and decide who is a citizen and who is a terrorist.

It is also important that Säpo infiltrates islamic societies here (obviously with the help of immigrant agents) and locates active cells, as well as stomp down imams who are working hard on placing Jihad in the "youth" hearts. The suspect shall be tried and in the case of guilt in regards to extremist activities, he would be escorted out of the country together with his family, his dog and his gold fish. His house and his family business to go to Kronofogden.

Only then one should expect some reduction in the constant flow of THIS into Sweden.
17:19 July 17, 2012 by guliver
Well

Uncle

I must admite I did not know that information as I am not living in Sweden but in Israel.

Any way the Hezballa and Islamic Jihad are very dangerous terroristic groups and they try to act all over the western world, if the situation is so bad as you write it just a matter of time untill a terroristic act will take place in Sweden.

I do hope they will be able to stop it on time.
19:15 July 17, 2012 by nathan45
Another "SWEDISH" terrorist of Middle Eastern origin what a suprise. Looks like immigration from islamic regions of the world is a great idea to me.
09:53 July 18, 2012 by mafketis
Something tells me that this comment thread will disappear, like similar comment threads where the connection between middle eastern immigrants and unsavory behavior is noted....
14:22 July 20, 2012 by Dorith
I came to this newspaper as I wanted to read about ghezali, who is suspected of murdering and severely wounding many Israeli tourists and the Bulgarian bus driver. I read in other papers that Sweden denies that ghezali is the terrorist.

I am very surprised that I could find nothing about the attack in Bulgaria, no recent mention of ghezali at all. How is that possible?? What kind of paper is this?

Unfortunately I do not read Swedish. I now wonder whether other Swedish papers mentioned the attack at all? In any case, if ghezali is not the terrorist, why does he not show his face to prove he is still kicking? What about his parents? What have they to say about the suspicions?
16:35 July 20, 2012 by Britt-Marie7
As far as I am concerned, this guy is no real Swede, just an immigrant and hopefully they keep him in Cyprus safely tucked away in their prison for a long time before sending him back to his original country. We don't need people like that in Sweden.
17:29 July 21, 2012 by viennacalling
More Costs to the Cypriot Taxpayer ! I would like to see all the Legal costs when this case is over
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