Greek prosecutors have launched criminal proceedings for five felony offences against three suspects arrested over the deadly arson attack on the home of New Democracy politician Afroditi Nestora’s family in Thessaloniki.
The charges include completed and attempted murder with conditional intent, participation in a terrorist organisation, causing an explosion, arson and violations of Greece’s weapons law, including possession of explosive materials.
The attack took place in the early hours of July 1 and killed Nestora’s mother, Vagia Nestora. Afroditi Nestora, her father and two other residents of the apartment building also suffered injuries.
The prosecutor filed the charges in rem, meaning authorities have not yet formally attributed each offence to individual defendants. The investigating magistrate will determine the specific charges against each suspect during the judicial investigation.
The three defendants received an extension to prepare their testimony next week and will remain in custody until then.
Authorities identified the suspects as two men, aged 29 and 24, and a 26-year-old woman.
According to the Counter-Terrorism Service investigation, pre-trial evidence and video footage allegedly identified the 29-year-old man and the 26-year-old woman as the direct perpetrators of the fatal arson attack.
Investigators accuse the 24-year-old man of providing his home as a base and hideout for his two co-defendants.
Authorities said the property lies a short distance from the Nestora family home and served as a base both before and after the attack. Investigators believe the two alleged perpetrators stayed there during the previous 24 hours while monitoring the area.
They allegedly returned to the property after the attack, changed their clothes and then left.
The 29-year-old is known to authorities over his activities within the anti-establishment movement and police have previously detained him twice for questioning.
The 26-year-old, originally from Athens and living in Thessaloniki, was remanded in custody in February 2022 in a case involving her alleged participation in the “Anarchist Action Organisation”. Authorities had accused members of the group of carrying out a series of arson attacks using small gas canisters.
Following the July 1 attack, the woman travelled to Chania, where authorities located and arrested her.
Counter-terrorism investigators believe two separate groups carried out three arson attacks in Thessaloniki on the same day within a period of less than 20 minutes.
Authorities link the first group to the attack on the Nestora family home and have arrested the three suspects in connection with that case.
Investigations continue into separate attacks targeting the homes of Thessaloniki New Democracy Steering Committee president Zisis Ioakeimovits and former MP Savvas Anastasiadis, as authorities work to identify and arrest those involved.