Man arrested in Thessaloniki
A foreign national, 40, was arrested yesterday and faces murder charges over the death of a 67-yearold retired schoolteacher whose body was found lying in a pool of blood in his apartment in the central Thessaloniki suburb of Xirokrini on Thursday. The 67-year-old’s body bore multiple wounds thought to have been caused by a knife. Investigators believe the retired teacher had invited the 40year-old to stay at his home. The victim was found after residents of the apartment block called police while the two were heard having a violent argument. The suspect was found hiding in an abandoned property nearby and had papers and valuables belonging to the victim in his possession.
Golden Dawn.
Golden Dawn MPs Efstathios Boukouras, Giorgos Germenis and Panayiotis Iliopoulos are to testify before a special prosecutor today in connection with charges related to an ongoing investigation into the alleged criminal activities of the ultranationalist party.
Drug operation.
Police at the northwestern Greek border with Albania were yesterday examining a route they believe was used by drug runners from the neighboring country to transport a 322kilogram load of hashish seized in Igoumenitsa. The drugs were found in a van being driven by an Albanian man, who has been arrested. Authorities are now seeking any accomplices he may have had at the rural border crossing in Filiata.
Dog euthanasia suit.
An animal rights group in Fthiotida, central Greece, has filed suit against the popular actor and current mayor of Stylida, Apostolos Gletsos, for allegedly ordering a dog be put down without going through the proper channels. Gletsos claimed yesterday that the dog was aggressive and had attacked two people, prompting his decision to have it humanely euthanized. Activists claim that he should have put the case before a special municipal committee first and provided proof of the animal’s aggression.
Radio protest.
A group of protesters yesterday entered the Super B radio station studios in the western city of Patra and interrupted the main evening news broadcast to read a statement demanding the release of hunger striker Spyros Stratoulis from Larissa Prison. Stratoulis has been on hunger strike since November 11 after being stripped of his furlough privileges, with doctors saying that his health is deteriorating rapidly. The 41-year-old has served more than 21 years of a life sentence for murder and robbery.
German ambassador.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier plans to replace Ambassador in Athens Wolfgang Dold, the German Press Agency (DPA) reported yesterday. He will be replaced by Peter Schoof, head of the European Union department at the German Foreign Office, according to the report. Unknown gunmen shot at Dold’s residence in a bloodless attack in Halandri, northern Athens, on December 30. Steinmeier said the decision had been made before the attack.