Two Israelis arrested for acts of sabotage, plotting assassination for Iran

Cars that were set alight near Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park, allegedly at the behest of Iranian agents, in an undated photo. (Israel Police)
Cars that were set alight near Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park, allegedly at the behest of Iranian agents, in an undated photo. (Israel Police)

Two Israelis have been arrested for carrying out a series of acts of sabotage for Iran and plotting to kill a senior Israeli figure, the Shin Bet and Israel Police announce in a joint statement.

According to the statement, an Israeli citizen identified as Vladislav Viktorson, 30, from Ramat Gan was approached by an Iranian identified as “Mari Hossi.”

Viktorson then recruited his 18-year-old partner Anna Bernstein. The two carried out various acts of sabotage and vandalism — including spraying provocative graffiti and putting up posters, setting fire to cars near Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park, and acts of arson in local forests — at the behest of Hossi, who gave them instructions in Hebrew, the statement says.

The two filmed some of the acts and were paid $5,000.

They were then asked to kill a prominent Israeli by throwing a hand grenade into his house, the statement said, adding that the two agreed to do so and had been trying to purchase weapons.

The target was not named.

The Shin Bet in recent months has announced a series of alleged Iranian plots, in which Iran had tried to trick Israelis online into carrying out missions for Tehran, including a scheme uncovered in January in which Israelis were allegedly recruited to gather intelligence on high-profile figures.

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