Jihadi suspect arrested in Greece – Minister says Greece not under threat

Following the terrorist incidents throughout Europe including the tragic events in Spain, the Greek government has quickly moved to assure that Greece is not a terrorist target.

The assurances follow the arrest of a female Belgian national of Moroccan descent who was arrested in Greece on Friday on charges of extremism under a Europol arrest warrant.

The woman was arrested on Friday night by coast guard officials on the ferry that serves the Bari-Corfu-Igoumenitsa route.  The international arrest warrant has been issued by Belgium for participation in a terrorist group. The Greek coast guard was tipped off by Italian authorities.

Alternate Minister for Citizen Protection Nikos Toskas said there was no intellegince suggesting that Greece is on any jihadist hit-list nor facing any threat similar to those witnessed in the rest of Europe.

"Our country is a pillar of stability and also security compared with, not just our immediate region, but also with the rest of Europe," he said, noting that the aim of the Jihadists is fear, "just like it happened in London, Paris, Germany, Spain recently, and Brussels before."

"There are no indications of such threats, such dangers in our country, without this implying that there are no general risks, there may not be people who are considering in their minds to do acts like the ones we saw," he added.

The Minister said terrorism in Europe is fuelled by the situation in the Middle East and affects all the countries, which do not want to let fear dominate but also, stop Jihadists from committing the crimes they have in their minds.

According to Toskas all Greek agencies, including the police and intelligence services, are cooperating with those of other European and non-European agencies in order to avert such incidents.