Athens: Suspect Arrested in Bombing of Grand Lodge of Greece

by Christopher Hodapp

An unnamed suspect has been arrested and charged with several bombings in Athens, Greece, including the July 13th explosion that happened outside the Grand Lodge of Greece and Supreme Council building. According to state broadcaster ERT, the suspect was seen on video footage by investigators looking into the attack. The explosion caused some damage, but no injuries.

He hasn't been publicly identified at this time.

From Ekathimerini.com website on July 26, 2023:

A 61-year-old man was arrested as the prime suspect behind several bombs planted outside the freemasons’ Grand Lodge of Greece in central Athens has also been charged with additional bomb and arsonist attacks in and around the Greek capital, the Hellenic Police announced on Wednesday.

While raiding his home police officers found a number of makeshift explosive devices, as well as quantities of explosives, tools and materials for making bombs, eight shotguns and large amounts of ammunition, firecrackers, printed flyers, a computer and printer, 18 mobile phones, a wig and clothing used during the bomb attack.

The suspect has been charged with the bomb attack on July 13, 2023 at a building housing the Freemasons’ Grand Lodge of Greece and Supreme Council 33 ° ; the bomb attack on March 2, 2023 on the Koropi Lower Civil Court and an attempted arsonist attack on the building housing the East Attica Secondary Education Directorate in Gerakas; a bomb attack on April 21, 2020 on a building owned by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece in central Athens.

For some bizarre reason, other sources seem a little too eager about describing the bomb and its detonation methods — not especially sophisticated, but why give instructions to bored teenagers, imbeciles and self-proclaimed revolutionaries? 

Police said the suspect was tied to the above attacks through investigative and forensic evidence, collected in collaboration with the Special Crimes of Violence Department, and that he resisted violently during the operation for his arrest.

The 61-year-old will be led before a public prosecutor and face charges of attempted arson, causing explosions that repeatedly endangered human life, possession and manufacture of explosives and explosive devices, destruction of property and other charges. [AMNA]