Developments continue in Greece’s long-running investigation into the deadly Marfin bank fire of May 2010, as two suspects are set to appear before an investigating judge on Monday and authorities expand their probe into one of the country’s most notorious criminal cases.
The two 42-year-old men, who were recently arrested, face charges of multiple counts of intentional homicide in connection with the arson attack on a Marfin bank branch in central Athens. The fire claimed the lives of three employees who became trapped inside the building and died from smoke inhalation.
The victims were a 32-year-old pregnant woman, a 35-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man.
Extradition proceedings begin in the UK
At the same time, British courts are handling the case of a 46-year-old woman who was arrested at London’s Gatwick Airport after an international arrest warrant was issued by the Greek authorities.
According to the case file, the woman had been living in Brighton for the past seven years. After learning that she had been named in the investigation, she reportedly contacted Greece’s Homicide Division, maintained her innocence and expressed her intention to return voluntarily to Greece to provide explanations.
However, she was arrested during passport control before boarding a scheduled flight to Athens.
She is currently being held by UK authorities and is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where extradition proceedings are set to begin. If she agrees to extradition, she could be transferred to Greece immediately. Otherwise, the legal process could take up to two months.
Investigators believe the woman was part of the five-member group involved in the attack. According to their reconstruction of events, she was positioned near the suspect accused of smashing the bank’s window with a sledgehammer and close to the individual alleged to have thrown the Molotov cocktails.
Two more suspects under investigation
Greek police are also focusing on two additional men whom investigators believe played key roles in the attack.
According to the investigation, one is suspected of throwing the Molotov bomb that ignited the fire, while the other poured a flammable substance inside the bank.
Police have already searched homes linked to the two men in the Athens area, seizing mobile phones and digital devices that are now being examined by forensic experts.
Greek Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said investigators spent two years working methodically to build what he described as a solid case before making the arrests.
Defense rejects allegations
Lawyers representing the suspects have strongly denied the accusations, describing the case as a fabrication and arguing that the evidence is weak.
The defense claims the investigation is largely based on an anonymous email sent to the authorities, in which the sender claimed to have kept a secret about the case for 16 years. The lawyers questioned both the timing and credibility of the message and called for the anonymous author to be identified and questioned so the allegations can be properly examined.
