A 49-year-old Turkish national who was allegedly involved in an incident of gunfire against officers of the National Intelligence Service (EYP) has been arrested, Greek police said on Saturday.
The shooting took place on Tuesday afternoon, May 27 in Thermi suburb of Thessaloniki, northern Greece.
According to police, the man was located hiding at a shed in the village Kato Vyrsini on Rhodopi mountain. It appears that he was heading to Bulgaria through mountain passes.
Police said he was the one who fired a gun at the car carrying EYP officers while he was driving his own jeep, which he used to escape with two fellow-nationals. He was found after blocks placed in the Rhodopi area and with the help of drones.
Saturday afternoon, police brought the Turkish national to a prosecutor in Thessaloniki.
The prosecutor of the first-instance court levelled charges of manslaughter by complicity (a crime), and illegal possession and use of weapons (misdemeanors).
The two men riding in the getaway car are being sought and have been charged with aiding a manslaughter attempt and accessories after the fact.
According to state broadcaster ERT, before hiding in the 4-residents mountainous village in Rodopi, it seems that he had used other hideouts. He had appropriately acquaintances in the area, who supplied him with food and water.
He is believed to be a member of a Turkish criminal organization “the Daltons.”
The 49-year-old man lives legally in Greece, as he has been granted asylum since 2023; this would expire in January 2028.
In June 2019 and December 2018, he was arrested for illegal entry into Greece.
He is wanted in Turkey for drug and human trafficking, weapons violations and prison break.