A joint operation between the Shin Bet and the Tel Aviv District Police’s Fraud Division led to the arrest of a 27-year-old man from Tel Aviv on Sunday. Authorities suspect he was acting on behalf of an Iranian intelligence organization considered hostile to Israel.
Officials from both agencies said the man had allegedly been in communication with Iranian agents for several months and is believed to have carried out a series of assignments on their behalf. These activities reportedly included taking photos of the residences of government officials, gathering visual intelligence near military installations, and vandalizing public areas with graffiti.
Investigators discovered that the suspect had received payments amounting to thousands of dollars, with the funds transferred through digital cryptocurrency platforms.
During a Sunday search of the suspect’s residence, law enforcement personnel confiscated computer equipment and electronic storage devices suspected of being used to exchange information with his Iranian contacts.
The individual appeared before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning. The court approved the request to keep him in custody until June 26 while the investigation continues.
Officials from the Shin Bet and the police warned that Iranian-backed espionage and terror groups remain active in their efforts to enlist Israelis for covert operations. “These organizations reach out through social media platforms, and we urge all citizens and residents of Israel not to engage with foreign actors or carry out any missions on their behalf,” the agencies stated.
They further cautioned, “All security bodies will act with full force to bring anyone involved in such activity to justice and call on the public to immediately report any suspicious contact or solicitation attempts.”
{Matzav.com Israel}