Suspects in foiled Passover attack remanded in pre-trial custody

Two men accused of planning a Passover attack on a Jewish center in central Athens have been remanded in pre-trial custody after appearing in court to answer to terrorism charges.

The two defendants, aged 27 and 29, confessed to forming and joining a terrorist organisation.

Authorities announced the arrests of the suspects earlier this week and described the men as being of Pakistani origin.

Police alleged they were planning to attack the Chabad of Athens center, which is part of the international orthodox Jewish Hasidic Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The center hosts religious services, as well as a kosher restaurant and grocery.

Passover, one of the most important Jewish holidays, starts next Wednesday at sundown.

Investigators are trying to determine if the suspects were planning attacks at other locations. Police have searched multiple sites in Athens as well as in the south of the country and on the western island of Zakynthos.

The men arrested are scheduled to appear before a public prosecutor, who is expected to order their pretrial detention.

A third man, who is not in Greece, is wanted for questioning and has been charged with terrorism-related offenses in absentia.

Israel has thanked the government for its response and said that its national intelligence agency, Mossad, had provided information about the suspects. [AP, Kathimerini]