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PoliticsGreece police minister: 2010 Marfin bank arson case close to being solved
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Greece's police minister Michalis Chrysochoidis announced on Saturday that the 2010 Marfin bank arson case, which killed three people including a pregnant woman during an anti-austerity protest in Athens, is close to being solved. Two men have been arrested in the Athens area, and a woman is to be extradited from Britain. The minister described the evidence as 'watertight' and said the law had been fully observed. The attack occurred on May 5, 2010, during a protest against austerity measures tied to Greece's first bailout. Police identified suspects using advanced digital photographic analysis and an anonymous email tip. Lawyers for the suspects have called the evidence 'scant' and 'unreliable'. Chrysochoidis, who was police minister at the time of the attack, said the case had left a mark on him and that additional suspects remain unidentified.
Source report
Greece’s police minister has pledged to resolve one of the country’s most notorious unsolved crimes: a 2010 bank arson that killed three people, including a pregnant woman, during an anti-austerity protest.
Arrests and Extradition
Michalis Chrysochoidis told Ta Nea daily on Saturday that the case was now “watertight” following the arrest of two men in the Athens area this week. A woman is also set to be extradited from Britain in connection with the incident.
“There is evidence, and the law has been fully observed under the supervision of the prosecutorial authorities,” the minister said.
The Attack
On May 5, 2010, during an anti-austerity protest, a firebomb was thrown at the Marfin bank in central Athens, resulting in the deaths of three bank workers, including a pregnant woman.
Three bank officials later received manslaughter sentences for negligence, but the perpetrators had never been caught.
Minister’s Personal Involvement
Chrysochoidis, who was also police minister at the time of the attack, described the incident as “one of the most heinous crimes” in Greece over the past five decades, saying it had “left a mark” on him. In a separate interview this week, he stated he had “personally worked for two years” with officers on the case.
Context
The 2010 attack occurred just three days after the socialist government of George Papandreou signed the first of three eventual bailouts with the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the IMF. Those bailouts would total 350 billion euros ($400 billion at today’s exchange rate).
Investigation and Evidence
According to news reports this week, police identified the suspects using advanced digital photographic analysis and a tip-off from an anonymous email.
Lawyers for the suspects have described the evidence cited as “scant” and “unreliable”.
Ongoing Search
Chrysochoidis confirmed on Saturday that police are seeking additional suspects. “There are still perpetrators who have not been identified,” he said.
Source
EuractivWestern
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Greece police minister vows to solve 2010 deadly bank arson case