Anti-terrorists are searching Nikos Maziotis’ hiding place

18 July 2014 / 16:07:20 GRReporter

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Photo: ethnos.gr

After the spectacular arrest of wanted terrorist Nikos Maziotis in the centre of Athens on Wednesday at noon, the events developed at a rapid pace.

Shortly after 2:00 pm today the authorities discovered the hiding place of the terrorist, which was in a flat on the 5th floor of a building at 27 "Ipsilandou" Street, on the border between Pefki and Maroussi municipalities in Athens, near the underground station.

The police have cordoned off the area and the anti-terrorists are searching the flat.

According to Athens News Agency, Nikos Maziotis, his girlfriend Paula Roupa and their about 4-year-old child lived in the flat but, upon entering, the police found nobody.

According to the same sources, the couple had rented the flat around 2 years ago, Maziotis always went out with a wig and Paula Roupa had dyed her hair blond.

The investigation is underway to find the garage and probably the car that Maziotis bought last year with the fake identification card in the name of Michalis Mihelakis, and the hiding place of the weapons. Meanwhile, yesterday the gun with which Maziotis had shot eight bullets at the policemen on Wednesday before being apprehended, injuring one policeman and two tourists, had not previously been used in bank robberies or other attacks.

The noose around Maziotis’ collaborators is tightening

Earlier today the magistrates issued an arrest warrant for the person who is considered an accomplice of Nikos Maziotis, based on the data that the police had submitted to justice.

He is a 35-year-old man involved in spectacular bank robberies in Methana on 25 July 2013 and Akrata on 20 December 2012, and, according to sources, he was involved in the kidnapping of Greek businessman George Milonas in 2008.

According to the same sources, one day before the armed robbery in Methana on 25 July 2013, in which the amount stolen was 109,000 euro, the 35-year-old man had examined the place and, in order not to be a suspect he entered the bank and was served as a client. His own signature on the bank document has however led the authorities to him.

According to well-informed sources, the police are following the track of another close associate of Nikos Maziotis.

Meanwhile, an arrest warrant for Nikos Maziotis was issued based on the new charges that were raised yesterday. This was purely formal because the moment of his detention has put into effect the period for the serving of his 50-year sentence (of which, under the Greek law, he must serve 25 years) imposed on him for involvement in the terrorist organisation "Revolutionary Struggle".

Under the law, when the arrest warrant is communicated to the accused, he must appear before a magistrate within 24 hours or a date for his defence speech should be scheduled.

The charges against Maziotis

The charges against Nikos Maziotis and his collaborators are as follows: