Galery

1

Charges of involvement in a criminal organisation, complicity in a robbery, complicity in an act of embezzlement and illegal possession of firearms were filed against the four persons arrested for the double robbery in Velvento in the Prefecture of Kozani, on Friday. The four, aged 20, 22, 24 and 25, were given a deadline to testify by Wednesday. They were charged with causing damage, using a fake police card, resistance, communication security violation and minor injury. Under draconian security measures, those arrested were brought to Kozani's Prosecution Office. By order of the same Prosecution Office, personal data and photographs of the four arrested criminals were disclosed. Those arrested were shouting slogans against politicians, judges and police while they were brought to the Prosecution Office. It is noted that arrest warrants for complicity in the terrorist organisation "Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei" were issued against two of the detained. It became clear that the other two are students-anarchists. The accused will remain in police custody in Kozani until Wednesday and, after their testimony, two of them, who were previously sought, will be moved to Athens where their arrest warrants will be implemented. Currently, the other four participants in the robbery are still being sought, and, in the area around Kozani, the police operation for the discovery of the hiding place used by the criminals is still underway.

According to official police information, eight people were involved in the robbery. Two of them wore hoods and broke the window of the branch of the Agricultural Bank with an axe and, after rushing in, they threatened the staff with a gun and managed to steal 175,940 euro, while their accomplice was waiting for them in front of the bank. Simultaneously, two others, also hooded, entered via the main entrance of the TT Hellenic Postbank's office and, with the help of their weapons, stole 4,020 euro. A third man was waiting for them outside. The seventh armed accomplice was nearby and had visual contact with both groups. Subsequently, the seven men escaped in two cars.

The authorities immediately began searching for the participants in the robbery and police roadblocks were placed at various points on the roads. According to the police, the offenders abandoned the two cars and changed them for a pickup. Afterwards, using a weapon, they managed to stop a car on the Kozani-Veria highway and forced the driver to get in the pickup with three of the accomplices. The other four headed to Veria in the stolen car.

Police officers involved in the search discovered the pickup moving down the highway. The vehicle was surrounded by Imathia's police forces and it was stopped in the town of Veria. One of the perpetrators threatened the police officers with weapons, but all three criminals were arrested and the kidnapped person was released. Two Kalashnikovs, a Scorpion machine gun, an automatic rifle and Zastava and Beretta pistols were discovered.

Shortly before that, on the Kozani-Thessaloniki highway near Polimilos, another car with a man in it was discovered and it turned out that he was waiting for the perpetrators to help them escape. The car bore the insignia of an ambulance. The driver tried to escape while accelerating, but he was stopped near the mines of the State Electricity Company in Ptolemaida. The offender got out of the car with a Kalashnikov and was arrested by the police. Before that, he tried to set the car on fire. The two cars that were used initially were discovered in the area of Velvento.

Meanwhile, by order of the Prosecution Office, personal data and photographs of the four arrested criminals have been disclosed. These are:

1. Ioannis Michailidis, 25, from Amarousi, Attica;

2. Andreas-Dimitrios Bourzoukos, 24, from Holargos, Attica;

3. Dimitrios Politis, 22, from Holargos, Attica;

4. Nikolaos Romanos, 20, from Athens.

Detainees Ioannis Michailidis and Dimitrios Politis had fake police cards with fake names. Three arrest warrants have been issued against Michailidis and Politis for complicity in the terrorist organisation "Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei".