Three people accused in connection with a deadly arson attack on a family home in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki are scheduled to appear before an investigating judge on Tuesday, as authorities continue to probe the case.
The attack, which took place in the early hours of July 1, claimed the life of Vagia Nestora, while four other people were injured after the family home was set on fire.
Prosecutors have brought a series of criminal charges in relation to the case, including five felony counts: completed and attempted homicide with possible intent, participation in a terrorist organization, causing an explosion, arson, and violations of firearms legislation linked to the possession of explosive materials.
The prosecution has been filed in rem, meaning it concerns the criminal acts under investigation rather than assigning individual charges to specific suspects at this stage. The exact legal responsibility of each defendant will be determined during the main judicial investigation.
Authorities state that a 29-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman carried out the fatal attack. A third suspect, aged 24, is accused of providing an abandoned house that investigators believe was used as a staging point and hideout before and after the incident.
During the preliminary investigation, the two perpetrators, who are known to law enforcement and are said to be associated with the anti-establishment movement, declined to answer investigators’ questions, stating they would present their defense before the investigating judge.
The third suspect reportedly denied knowing the other two defendants. According to investigators, he claimed he had simply handed over the keys to the abandoned property to friends without knowing how it would be used.
Meanwhile, Greece’s counterterrorism unit is continuing its investigation into two other arson attacks carried out on the same day in Thessaloniki. Those attacks targeted the homes of the head of the ruling New Democracy party’s local committee and a former member of parliament.
Investigators are also focusing on the 29-year-old suspect’s mobile phone, which they believe could provide crucial evidence. According to reports, the suspect threw the device out of a window during the police operation that led to his arrest. Authorities recovered the phone intact, and it is now being examined by forensic specialists.
