Greece Arrests Suspects 16 Years After Deadly Marfin Bank Arson Attack

Sixteen years after a devastating arson attack on a Marfin bank branch in Athens, Greek authorities have arrested two men and are searching for a woman in connection with the crime. The blaze on May 5, 2010, claimed the lives of three bank employees, including a pregnant woman, who were trapped inside the building.

The arrests followed an anonymous email and new testimonies from individuals who witnessed the tragic events. Investigators believe the two arrested 42-year-old men and the 46-year-old woman, who reportedly lives in the UK, were part of the anti-establishment movement. Police conducted raids in various Athens neighborhoods to apprehend the suspects.

One of the survivors, who became a symbol of the tragedy after being filmed desperately seeking help from a balcony, spoke about the harrowing experience. While expressing relief at the arrests, she also voiced caution, awaiting concrete proof of the suspects' guilt. "My first reaction is great distress. But also reservation, as to whether these are indeed the real perpetrators," she told Live News. "Because past events have made us think so cautiously. All I want is to see tangible evidence from the prosecution authorities that they are the real perpetrators."

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My first reaction is great distress. But also reservation, as to whether these are indeed the real perpetrators. Because past events have made us think so cautiously. All I want is to see tangible evidence from the prosecution authorities that they are the real perpetrators.

She recounted the terrifying moments when colleagues inside the bank shouted to the attackers that people were trapped, but their pleas were ignored. "My colleagues were shouting 'Don't throw it, there are people inside.' They heard them screaming, but nevertheless, things took the course we all know," she said. "We were 23 inside the bank, I was in the basement. When I heard glass breaking, I immediately called the police. Then I tried to call 166, but the basement phone was out of service. Because we had experienced other attacks, I was frantically looking for a way to get upstairs to save myself. I couldn't see anything because of the smoke. For a week, my body coughed up burnt remains."

The investigation gained new momentum with the anonymous email and witness accounts, leading to the arrests. The woman sought by authorities reportedly left Greece six years ago. Despite past associations with the anti-establishment scene, she had not previously come to the attention of authorities after the 2010 incident.

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My colleagues were shouting 'Don't throw it, there are people inside.' They heard them screaming, but nevertheless, things took the course we all know.