Criminal organisation extorted shops in Athens with bombs – five arrests
Five people were arrested for a series of attacks using incendiary devices and hand grenades against shops in Athens. A 49-year-old man, who allegedly gave orders from prison, is believed to be the leader.
Security camera footage reveals the organisation's activities
Video documents from security cameras capturing frame-by-frame the attacks by a criminal organisation on shops of public health interest in Athens have come to light, according to Ethnos. The organisation is linked to the use of incendiary devices and hand grenades, as well as systematic extortion of business owners.
Five people were arrested yesterday: two Greeks and three foreigners. Four of them are adults, aged 18, 19, 19 and 20 years old, and one is 17 years old. The case file includes four additional people who are already being held in correctional facilities, including the alleged leader of the organisation.
The charges
Against those involved, case files were drawn up, as appropriate, for criminal organisation, attempted murder, completed and attempted explosions, manufacture and possession of explosive and incendiary materials, damage to others' property, extortion in completed and attempted form, as well as violations of weapons legislation.
A separate case file was drawn up by the Prosecution and Investigation Division of Crimes in Trikala against the 49-year-old alleged leader for a breach of weapons legislation. In a search conducted in his cell, three improvised weapons were found and seized. Additionally, the Dorida Police Department drew up a case file against two other imprisoned members for moral complicity in the introduction of a mobile phone into a correctional facility.
49-year-old directed the organisation from inside prison
Police investigation revealed that the organisation operated with a specific internal structure and hierarchy, with each member taking on a distinct role. The central figure was the 49-year-old detainee, who, according to police, maintained full operational control despite his detention.
He selected the targets, assessed information gathered before each attack, gave orders to other members and oversaw the execution of plans. Two other detainees, aged 27 and 23, acted as intermediaries: they relayed orders, coordinated the movements of members outside prison and ensured communication between them.
The remaining members took on the collection of information about targets, surveillance of locations and vehicles, identification of persons, photographing and mapping of areas, procurement of means, execution of attacks and escape from crime scenes.
Three cases of attacks from August to October 2026
The authorities have so far solved three cases of attacks on shops of public health interest in Athens, which took place between August and October 2026.
On 26 August 2026, members of the organisation used improvised incendiary devices against a shop in Athens, causing a small-scale fire and material damage.
On 8 September 2026, two shops were attacked with hand grenades, resulting in extensive material damage. In these specific cases, the owners also received extortion demands for payment of sums of money.
On 5 October 2026, a hand grenade was thrown at a shop in Athens without detonating. At the time of the attack, the shop was operating normally and there were customers inside.
Perpetrator with covered face in Omonia
In footage from security cameras, an attack on a shop in Omonia is distinctly captured: the perpetrator, with his facial features covered, breaks the storefront glass and throws a hand grenade inside, which detonates a few seconds later. These videos constituted key evidence in the police investigation that led to the arrests.
Source: Ethnos