Greek anti-terrorism police have discovered a cache of guns and explosives in a central Athens apartment, authorities announced Wednesday. The find comes weeks after a bomb exploded in another apartment in the city, killing a man and injuring a woman.
The cache of weapons and explosives found in the Pangrati apartment on Tuesday night contained over 10 kilos of explosives, police said on Wednesday.
Police added that the cache included 6 firearms, detonators, and 3 hand grenades.
Explosives included 7.5 kilos of ammonia dynamite, 3 kilos of gelatine dynamite, 2 kilos of TNT and 37 kilograms of ammonia nitrate.
They were found in a space that had remained unused for a long time by the owner, who informed the police. A bomb squad was present during the police search.
Historical Context and Current Investigation
Greece has a long history of political violence by anarchist and leftist groups, particularly since the 1970s, although such attacks have declined in recent years. A senior government official told Reuters the newly found arms cache likely belonged to an inactive urban guerrilla group and may not be directly connected to the recent bombing.
So far, four individuals have been charged in relation to the October 31 blast, facing allegations that include participating in a terrorist group and illegal possession of explosives. All have denied the charges.
Key Developments in the Case
Police recently arrested a 31-year-old self-proclaimed anarchist after identifying his fingerprint on a plastic bag. He denies involvement, with his lawyer stating, "He does not know any of the other defendants and has nothing to do with the blast."
A 30-year-old Swiss woman and a 33-year-old woman injured in the explosion are also in custody, while the deceased man, believed to be part of the group, remains a central figure in the investigation. Authorities have analysed CCTV footage, suggesting the group may have been planning an attack on the day of the explosion.
The intended target of the bomb remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing as authorities probe potential connections between the weapons cache and the broader network of urban guerrilla activities.
(Source: Reuters)