Iranian spy cell busted: Shin Bet arrests two Israelis in assassination plot

The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Lahav 433 unit of the Israel Police exposed an Iranian intelligence cell operating to recruit and activate Israeli citizens and arrested two residents of Ramat Gan suspected of planning to carry out an assassination attack on Iran’s behalf, Israeli media reported on Monday.

One of the individuals, Vladislav Victorson, a man in his 30s, had reportedly communicated in Hebrew via social media with an individual named “Mari Hossi” since last August.

Under the direction of this Iranian agent, Victorson carried out various tasks, including spray-painting graffiti, hanging posters, planting money, and setting cars on fire in the Yarkon Park area of Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media.

Vladislav received over $5,000 for completing tasks

Later, Victorson was reportedly asked to sabotage communication infrastructure and ATMs and to start forest fires. Some of these tasks were documented, and he received over $5,000 for their execution.

According to the investigation’s findings, Victorson agreed to carry out an assassination of an Israeli figure and throw a grenade at a house.

In pursuit of this, he reportedly sought to obtain weapons, including a sniper rifle, pistols, and hand grenades.Victorson enlisted two other people, including his girlfriend, Anna Bernstein, 18, of Ramat Gan, to assist in his missions, according to the Shin Bet.