More suspects swept up in plot against Israelis

A total of five men are in custody in Cyprus in connection with an alleged plot against Israeli businessmen on the island, with local police using phone records to identify suspects but still keeping a very tight lid on the case.

A 27-year-old man from Pakistan was arrested Monday in connection with an alleged thwarted assassination plot against Israeli businessmen on the island.

The case drew international media attention after Israeli officials cited intelligence saying the prime suspect, a 38-year-old Russian national of Azeri background, flew to Cyprus on orders from Iran to target Israelis on the island.

But other reports pointed to a financial dispute over unpaid Russian debts, after it emerged that Israeli-Cypriot businessman Teddy Sagi, a gambling software company boss, had been identified as the target along with four of his associates.

The latest suspect is the fifth person in the case to be detained by Cyprus police, who continue to investigate the case in total secrecy.

He is set to appear before a judge for a remand hearing on Tuesday, when prosecutors are expected to argue that he had been in contact with two other suspects already in custody.

Three Pakistani nationals are already in remanded custody, a 27-year-old arrested on October 12 and two others aged 25 and 32 detained on October 22. Reports said they were tracked down after police examined phone records.

It was not clear what offences were being investigated against each suspect, as law enforcement officials have declined to comment on the case, citing national security reasons and safety concerns for informants.

But Knews has been told that all suspects are being detained on at least one charge of conspiracy, while it was also not clear whether police could trace all Pakistani suspects directly back to the Azeri man.

Previous reports in local media suggested at least some of the Pakistani suspects were being investigated on whether food delivery attire found in their residences could be linked to allegations some may have pretended to work in the food industry to stake out targets in west Nicosia.