Two more arrested in Xiros terrorism ring

According to police sources, one man is a 37-year old Albanian national who rented the house in Anavyssos that was used by Xiros and where police uncovered a large arsenal including homemade explosives, numerous Kalashinikovs, a rocket launcher and other weapons. The other man is a 54-year-old Greek national who police say is a former anti-terror police officer.

From notebooks and other evidence police believe that the group was planning a major attack on the prison of Korydallos in an attempt to free jailed members of the domestic guerilla group ‘Cells of Fire.’

While Xiros is likely to have had other accomplices who remain at large, the two men arrested by police are believed to be central members of the group. A warrant had been issued by a magistrate for the arrest of the two suspects who were spotted yesterday afternoon in Kalamata in the southern Peloponnese. According to the warrant, the men are suspected of belonging to a terrorist group, committing acts of terror, building procuring and possessing explosives and possessing illegal firearms.

The 37-year-old had rented the Anavyssos residence under the pseudonym ‘Theocharis Chrysakis’. According to the testimony of the owner of the Anavyssos residence, the suspect had first contacted him about renting the residence in mid-May. He had purported to be a member of the Coast Guard, tasked with protecting the resupply of oil tankers belonging to a well-known ship-owner. He had even turned up at the meeting dressed in the uniform of a Navy NCO. He had told the owner that he wanted to rent  because the house was in a quiet area and that would please his wife, Maria, who had psychological problems. ‘Theocharis’ had also introduced Xiros to the owner, calling him ‘Nikos’.

According to the owner as well as other witnesses who came in contact with ‘Theocharis’ had injuries to his legs and had a characteristic limp. This fact set off alarm bells for police as one of the unknown attackers involved in the murder of two young Golden Dawn supporters outside the party’s offices in November, 2013 had a very similar gait. Police are now investigating whether ‘Theocharis’ may have been one of the killers.

He also has a record of involvement in armed robbery and illegal drug rings.

According to police sources, the 54-year old Greek suspect is a former police officer with the anti-terror squad.

Police say that he has also been in trouble with the law in the past, having been implicated in a cigarette smuggling ring. According to high ranking police officers he has close ties with a prisoner serving a heavy sentence for serious crimes.

Following the arrest of Xiros, the men appear to have fled to a home outside Kalamata belonging to the former police officer. They were arrested in the center of the city where they were driving in a car. Anti-terror police in at least 4-5 vehicles penned the suspected criminals in, and the two men were detained.