With just hours to go before traditionally noisy midnight firework celebrations on Orthodox Easter Saturday, police announced further arrests across the country in a bid to clamp down on the illegal custom.
On the island of Salamis, just off Athens, two suspects aged 70 and 69 were taken into custody after being found in possession of about 2,000 fireworks, bangers and flares, police said Saturday. The arrests followed police stopping three people in a car who had allegedly shopped from the suspects.
In the town of Elefsina west of the capital, officers detained a 44-year-old man for letting off a firework in a square. A search of his house revealed hundreds more unused fireworks, which were confiscated.
Police also made one arrest in Livadeia and seized about 4,000 fireworks, and a 44-year-old woman was taken into custody on the southeastern Aegean Sea island of Leros for allegedly selling fireworks.
Scores of people have been arrested in recent weeks – including minors accused of manufacturing large quantities of fireworks at home – with police stressing that the custom is both illegal and dangerous.
According to Greek tradition, the noise of fireworks and bangers let off outside churches just as the midnight Resurrection service is being held is supposed to scare off evil spirits. The custom can result in serious injuries among people using fireworks, as well as among bystanders.