Two Lebanese nationals charged with plotting terror attacks in western Africa told a court in Nigeria on Monday they were interrogated by Mossad agents, AFP reported.

Cache of weapons discovered at home of suspected Hezbollah operatives in Kona, – Nigeria. Photo:AFP

Mustapha Fawaz, Abdallah Thahini and Talal Ahmad Roda, allegedly Hezbollah members, were arrested in May after Nigerian police discovered they had amassed a secret weapons stock.

The prosecution alleges the three planned attacks on Israeli and Western targets in Nigeria and nearby countries, but they have denied the charges and belonging to Hezbollah, according to AFP.

AFP reported that while testifying in court, Fawaz said he was bound and deprived of sleep for days by interrogators who had identified as agents of Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad.

Describing their treatment of him as “crude and nasty” Fawaz told the court “they handcuffed my hands behind my back for days. I lost count because they did not allow me to sleep for several days.”

He said a total six Israeli Mossad agents and one masked white man interrogated him during 14 days, AFP reported. He added that no Nigerian official was present during this time.

“I was interrogated in Arabic,” Fawaz said. “I asked to be interrogated in English, but they refused. Most of them are weak in English. They are not Europeans, but Israelis.

“They asked me about my link with Hezbollah, but they concentrated more on Lebanon – whether I knew if there are weapons stored in the south of Lebanon or the identities of people who have been trained by Hezbollah,” Fawaz said.

Thahini, who told the court he was no longer a member of Hezbollah, according to AFP, corroborated Fawaz’s testimony giving an account of interrogators he could tell were Israel’s “because we are neighbors.”

The prosecution anddefense rested their cases Monday and the judged adjourned the trial until September 30, AFP reported.

According to AFP police are still seeking a fourth suspect.

Israel has warned Hezbollah is increasing its operations in western Africa, looking to attack Israeli target.

View original HAARETZ publication at: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.540047