Explosion in Plaka: copper theft as cause — three arrest warrants issued
Warrants for two Greeks and one Albanian were issued 34 days after the explosion that killed six people in Plaka.
Sabotage of natural gas pipeline for copper: three suspects in Plaka tragedy
Wilful damage to natural gas pipelines with the aim of stealing copper was the cause of the explosion in Plaka on 25 September 2026, according to Τo Vima. The act cost six people their lives: an elderly couple residing on the second floor of the building and four American tourists who had rented the first-floor apartment through Airbnb.
After 34 days of intensive investigation under the supervision of prosecuting authorities, the Athens judicial authorities issued three arrest warrants — for two Greeks and one Albanian national.
Chronicle of the investigation
From the morning of 25 September 2026 until 29 October 2026, specialised personnel from the Arson Crime Prevention Directorate (D.A.E.E.) of the Fire Service worked around the clock under conditions of utmost secrecy. The central focus of the investigation was the examination of the movements of the three suspects and the documentation of their involvement.
The exploitation of findings and scientific identification ultimately led to the issuance of warrants by the competent Athens judicial authorities.
Reconstruction of the scene and lifting of communications secrecy
A decisive role in solving the case was played by the complete reconstruction of the explosion scene, which allowed the precise location of findings to be recorded and the sequence of events to be reconstituted.
The investigative process combined detailed analysis of audiovisual material, systematic evaluation of evidence recovered from the site, as well as critical information that emerged following the lifting of communications secrecy.
Scientific assistance from the National Technical University of Athens
Particular importance was attached to the scientific foundation of the case. The D.A.E.E. collaborated with appointed expert witnesses — electrical engineers and a chemist — as well as with scientific personnel from the metallography laboratory of the National Technical University of Athens (Department of Metallurgy and Materials Technology).
The specialised examination of evidence and the combined evaluation of investigative findings fully confirmed the conclusions of the investigation, thus completing the picture of how the copper theft led to the collapse and the death of six people.
Source: To Vima