Arson at café in Nea Ionia – 22-year-old Syrian owner in the frame
The case of the fire at a café in Nea Ionia has been assigned to the Extortion Prosecution Division. A 10-year-old girl who inhaled smoke is being treated and is out of danger.
Arson in Nea Ionia: Extortion Prosecution Division takes over investigation – 10-year-old girl out of danger
The Extortion Prosecution Division has taken over the case of the fire that broke out in the early hours of Monday, 28 September at a café on Kastamonis Street in Nea Ionia, Attica, according to news247.gr. Officers from the Department of Countering Arson Offences discovered scattered quantities of flammable material around the perimeter of the establishment and estimate that it is a case of arson.
The 10-year-old girl who inhaled a large quantity of smoke is being treated out of danger at "Agia Sophia" Children's Hospital. The child was among the residents who took refuge on the roof of the apartment building and was safely evacuated by firefighters.
Owner in the frame and recent attacks on foreign-owned stores
Police are focusing on the 22-year-old Syrian owner of the establishment, who stated that he had not received any threats. At the same time, the possible connection with recent attacks on foreign-owned stores in central Athens is being examined. The possibility that the order for the attack was given from within prisons is also being seriously considered.
The history of the specific café is also under investigation. In February 2023, a fatal confrontation with gunfire occurred at the same location, resulting in a 37-year-old victim, while two days before that incident the then owner's 16-year-old son had been attacked and robbed.
Fire at 04:25 – residents hear explosions
The fire broke out at 04:25. Eighteen firefighters with five vehicles, a specialised ladder truck and an aerial platform vehicle rushed to the scene for extinguishing and evacuating residents. The establishment was completely destroyed, whilst the flats of the apartment building suffered serious damage.
A resident of the building told ERT that he woke up when his wife alerted him that the balcony was already engulfed in flames. As he described it, the fire spread in minimal time from the ground floor to the upper floors.
Residents of the area reported a loud bang that preceded the fire. One woman stated that she heard a loud explosion and saw flames outside her window a few seconds later, whilst within approximately half an hour the fire had covered almost the entire building. Some residents reported three explosions coming from the shop.
"Around 4:30 a woman was shouting 'fire fire'. When I opened the door, some people were heading towards the roof running, thinking they would be saved. I was shouting at them to go down, towards the exit," a resident of the area described to MEGA.
Some residents managed to escape from the main entrance, whilst others were forced to take refuge on the roof due to thick smoke and were evacuated by firefighters, who led them to nearby safe locations.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)