Greek police said it had arrested five suspects linked to an organized crime ring after uncovering a large cache of weapons and explosives in Western Attica.
The suspects face multiple charges including possession and manufacture of explosives, supply and trade of weapons, illegal trade of antiquities and drug trafficking.
The news comes days after a bomb explosion in a central Athens apartment which left one man dead and a woman seriously injured.
The operation carried on Monday by Greece’s Organized Crime Unit included simultaneous raids at five sites in Mandra, Western Attica, where they found and seized dozens of weapons and explosives, including military-grade explosives, dynamite, detonators, firearms, gun silencers, bulletproof vests, handcuffs, swords, and knives, among others.
Photo: Greek Police/ Eurokinissi
The police also found gold coins and UK currency, silver replicas of ancient Greek coins and six authentic ancient coins, jewelry, cash, mobile phones and laptops.
The suspects will be brought before a prosecutor. Police are not ruling out links to terrorist groups.
Earlier this week, referring to the bomb incident in Ampelokipi, Central Athens, Greece’s Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis said authorities were concerned about groups of young people who “aspire to be the next generation of terrorists”.
For decades, terrorist group November 17 (N17) committed armed robberies, assassinations, and bombing attacks in Greece, which led to the deaths of 23 people.
Asked if terrorism in Greece had come to an end, Chrisochoidis said “terrorism never truly ends. The true enemy of social peace and security is complacency”.
