Following Tuesday’s deadly explosion in Lebanon, some eerie connections began to emerge in Cyprus, including a Russian national based in Limassol and a Hezbollah-related arrest on the island back in 2015.
According to Russian media, the highly explosive material that caused the devastating blast in Beirut came from a ship owned by a Russian businessman, Igor Grechushkin, who was described in reports as a Limassol-based resident in the Republic of Cyprus.
It was reported that in 2013 Lebanese authorities confiscated 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate from a Moldova-flag ship called the Rhosus, owned by Grechushkin, which made an unscheduled stop in Beirut. Some reports said the vessel had experienced technical problems.
The Rhosus reportedly was en route from Georgia to Mozambique when it arrived in Beirut, with the ship owner abandoning vessel operations and leaving the mixed Russian-Ukrainian crew stranded, some of whom were not allowed to leave the port until 2014.
Reports at the time said the cargo was inspected and detained after Lebanese port authorities said it was “lacking documents and conditions necessary for transportation.” The chemicals were taken off the ship and stored in a warehouse at the port, after Moldova revoked the ship’s licence.
But additional reports at the time said neither Mozambican authorities nor the managing company at the east African country’s port were aware of Rhosus carrying ammonium nitrate, which was described as a volatile chemical used in fertilizers. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer seized in Larnaca
A year later, in 2015, Cypriot authorities arrested a suspected terrorist in Larnaca, after foreign intelligence from a neighbouring country led officers to discover 8.2 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, a potential explosive, in the basement of a rented home in Larnaca.
Hussein Bassam Abdallah, described as a 26-year-old dual Canadian and Lebanese citizen, was arrested in late May 2015 after Cypriot authorities raided the residence.
The Cyprus News Agency reported that Abdallah later pleaded guilty to charges of possessing explosives, conspiracy to commit a crime, aiding and abetting a terrorist organization and participation in a terrorist group.
Cyprus Interior Minister Nicos Nouris has expressed to Lebanon`s Ambassador in Nicosia his condolences over the Beirut explosions during a telephone conversation.
In a press release the Ministry of Interior also rejects reports and information published in the daily press that the owner of the vessel Rhosus is a Cypriot passport holder..
The Ministry, says that during a telephone conversation with Lebanon`s Ambassador in Cyprus, Nouris expressed his condolences for the tragedy that befell the neighbouring country and his Ministry`s readiness to make any facilitation deemed necessary in case people who need medical or other assistance need to be transported to Cyprus.
The Interior Ministry further rejects reports and information published in the daily press that the owner of the vessel Rhosus, which was transporting 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate is a Cypriot passport holder.
