Μake us preferred on Google A 46-year-old Greek Navy officer has been arrested after a series of arson attacks targeting three women with whom he had previously been in relationships, setting fire to an apartment and several vehicles in the Athens suburbs of Glyfada and Nea Heraklion early Friday.
The attacks involved the use of gasoline and fire-starting materials and caused extensive property damage. One woman was taken to the hospital with respiratory problems after inhaling smoke. The suspect had previously come to the attention of police over domestic violence incidents, according to the investigation.
Apartment set on fire in Glyfada
The first attack took place at approximately 2:15 a.m. on Friday, when the suspect entered the second-floor apartment of his 36-year-old former partner on Vizantiou Street in Glyfada.
Carrying a gasoline can and a piece of cloth used to start fires, he set the bedroom ablaze, causing extensive damage.
Security camera footage reportedly captured him covering the building’s entrance camera with a cloth before carrying out the attack.
The apartment building was also home to the woman’s sister and her child. The sister was taken to the hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties caused by the smoke.
The father of the two women described the family’s panic after receiving a call from his daughter.
“My daughter, who lived with him, I had taken to the metro because she was working the night shift. My other daughter was sleeping in the building with her child. At 2:15, she screams on the phone: ‘Dad, he blew us up, he burned our house!’ I was in my pajamas, barefoot, got into the car and rushed there. My second daughter was taken to the hospital with breathing problems from the smoke. He fooled all of us,” he said.
Two vehicles targeted in a second attack
After setting the apartment on fire, the suspect moved to Nymfon Street, where he poured an accelerant over two parked vehicles and placed fire-starting materials on their hoods.
One vehicle belonged to another former partner, a 55-year-old woman. The second belonged to her current partner.
Fourth attack destroys car in Nea Heraklion
The attacks continued in Nea Heraklion, another suburb of Athens. At 4:38 a.m., a fire broke out on Kritis Street, targeting a car belonging to a 49-year-old woman who had also previously been in a relationship with the suspect.
Her vehicle was completely destroyed. The flames also spread to a nearby car, causing significant damage.
Suspect had previously been reported for domestic violence
Police identified and arrested the 46-year-old Navy officer following the attacks. Investigators said he had previously been involved in domestic violence cases that had come to the attention of law enforcement.
The criminal investigation is being handled by the police departments responsible for investigating and solving crimes in Glyfada and Nea Heraklion.
