A 25-year-old man is due to appear before an investigating judge in Thessaloniki on Friday after being arrested in connection with the fatal arson attack that claimed the life of 72-year-old Vagia Nestora earlier this month.
The attack took place in the early hours of July 1, when an incendiary assault on the family’s home left Nestora with severe burns. She later died from her injuries.
Arrest Followed Co-Defendant’s Testimony
According to the investigation, the arrest warrant for the 25-year-old was issued after statements and clarifications provided by a 24-year-old suspect during his testimony before the investigating judge earlier this week.
Authorities say the 25-year-old is linked to the anti-establishment movement. The 24-year-old, however, has denied any association with that group, describing himself as a postgraduate student in Astronomy and Quantum Physics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Apartment Keys at the Center of the Investigation
Investigators believe the 24-year-old handed over the keys to an apartment—used as a staging point for the attack—to the 25-year-old on June 26, the last day he visited the property, which belonged to his grandmother.
According to information gathered during the investigation, the two men met at a café in central Thessaloniki, where the keys were exchanged after the 25-year-old reportedly said they were needed to accommodate a friend. Having known each other for years, the 24-year-old handed them over without asking further questions. Authorities believe the 25-year-old later passed the keys to a 29-year-old man.
Investigation Continues
Following the arrest, counterterrorism officers searched the 25-year-old’s apartment in Thessaloniki, collecting evidence that is still being examined. Investigators said the material seized has not yet led to definitive conclusions.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to establish the precise role of each suspect and identify the individual believed to have carried out the fatal attack. Police are also examining whether the perpetrator directed or coordinated the actions of the other suspects.
