More than 1,500 passengers and crew were caught up in a major security operation in Greece after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of a cruise ship and delayed its departure for several hours.
The Israeli-operated Crown Iris was preparing to leave the island of Syros on Tuesday, 3rd November 2026, when authorities received a warning that an explosive device had allegedly been attached to the vessel’s hull.
The threat prompted an extensive search involving Greek port authorities, specialist bomb disposal personnel, an explosives detection dog and divers examining the ship underwater.
All 940 passengers and 597 crew members were evacuated while the checks took place.
No explosives or suspicious objects were discovered, and those on board were subsequently allowed to return to the ship.
Passengers Evacuated During Security Searches
Crown Iris had been scheduled to depart Syros at approximately 5pm, heading back to Haifa, Israel, following a seven-night Greek Islands cruise.
However, the warning triggered an immediate security response, with authorities inspecting both the ship’s interior and its underwater structure.
According to Greek authorities, an unidentified individual had claimed that an explosive device was attached to the hull.
The initial investigation involved Coast Guard personnel, an explosives detection dog and a private diver, with a specialist unit from the Hellenic Coast Guard’s Underwater Operations Unit called in to carry out further inspections.
Passengers and crew were evacuated as a precaution, with local authorities making municipal facilities available to accommodate those displaced during the operation.
Despite the initial searches finding nothing suspicious, Crown Iris remained in port beyond its scheduled departure time while security checks continued.
The additional underwater inspection was expected to begin at approximately 9.30pm local time.
Later reports confirmed that a comprehensive search had found no suspicious objects and that passengers and crew had been permitted to reboard.
The vessel was subsequently expected to resume its return journey to Israel, although its precise departure time had not been confirmed in the available reports.
The incident occurred towards the end of a round-trip voyage that departed Haifa on 29th October, with calls at Kos, Piraeus and Nafplio before reaching Syros.
Threat Follows Dispute Over Planned Protest
The security scare came just one day after Greek authorities restricted a planned demonstration against Crown Iris’s arrival in Syros.
The Syros Anti-War Initiative had intended to organise a protest along the Ermoupoli waterfront on Tuesday morning, coinciding with the ship’s scheduled arrival.
However, the Hellenic Coast Guard prohibited the demonstration from taking place at its proposed waterfront location, citing concerns about public safety.
Authorities warned that the gathering could create risks
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