President Prokopis Pavlopoulos hailed on Saturday the spirit of the “Ochi Day” for Greeks, which commemorates Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas‘s rejection of an Italian ultimatum demanding a right of passage through the country on October 28, 1940, saying it serves as a beacon during turbulent times.
Early in the morning of October 28th, 1940, the Greek Prime Minister was awoken to respond to a series of demands from the ambassador of Fascist Italy which would have allowed Italian troops free reign in Greece. His response was simple, yet firm: “Oxi” — No.
A 29-year-old arrested on Saturday morning has become a puzzle for police who are trying to profile him in order to fill in the gaps linking him to other local terrorist oganizations and indoividuals. Anti-terrorist service officers are continuing investigations of his accomplices as well as of attacks he was preparing.