LIMASSOL, Cyprus (AP) — A man on trial for allegedly plotting attacks on Israelis in Cyprus described himself Thursday as a loyal Hezbollah member doing its bidding in Europe, but vehemently denied being part of a group preparing an attack.

The trial of Hossam Taleb Yaacoub, a 24-year-old Swedish-Lebanese citizen, is of interest because he was arrested last July, days before a July 18 bus bombing in Bulgaria killed five Israeli tourists and their Bulgarian bus driver. Bulgarian authorities have accused the Shiite militant group Hezbollah of being behind that bombing.