Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office said an incident in Cyprus involving an Israeli businessman was in fact an act of terror that was orchanstrated by Iran against Israeli businesspeople.
“As opposed to some of the reports yesterday regarding an incident in Cyprus, I can clarify on behalf of the security establishment, that this was an act of terror that was orchestrated by Iran against Israeli businesspeople living in Cyprus,’’ said a short statement from Bennett’s media adviser.
‘’This is not a criminal act and the Israeli businessman Teddy Sagi was not the target of the attack,” it said.
Originally, a report by Channel 12 on Sunday said a well-known Israeli-Cypriot businessman was saved at the last minute from an assassination plot in Cyprus several days ago, after being warned about the attempt. The man was named as Teddy Sagi, a businessman who founded the gambling software company Playtech and owns Camden Market in London.
According to the report, Sagi was the target of an assassination plot in Cyprus due to debts he owes to Russian business partners. A hired killer of Azerbaijani origin was reportedly waiting for Sagi there.
But Sagi fled the country at the last minute, after receiving a warning of the plot from authorities, reported Channel 12.