Secret network behind attacks on New Democracy officials: Two groups, common core, and a second hideout

Greek authorities are intensifying their hunt for a network suspected of orchestrating attacks on the homes of New Democracy party officials. While three individuals have been arrested and face serious charges including attempted murder and terrorism participation, police are now focused on mapping the full extent of the organization behind the assaults.

The investigation suggests a sophisticated operation involving at least two distinct groups that carried out the three separate arson attacks. These groups, however, appear to have shared a common operational core. Police are actively seeking at least three more individuals, possibly four, linked to the attacks on the residences of the New Democracy committee president in Thessaloniki, Zisis Ioakeimovits, and former MP Savvas Anastasiadis.

Investigators believe each attack was meticulously planned, with specific roles assigned for acquiring materials, concealing them, and preparing for the actions. A key focus is locating a second hideout believed to have served as a support and coordination base for the currently unapprehended group. This location is thought to be connected to the arson attacks on Ioakeimovits' and Anastasiadis' homes.

Surveillance footage from security cameras is proving invaluable. Officers are meticulously analyzing the footage frame by frame, tracing the movements of suspects backward from the attack sites to pinpoint their starting points. They are examining the distances traveled on foot and by vehicle, particularly motorcycles, leading up to the incidents. Significant attention is also being given to evidence recovered from an apartment on Papadiamanti street, which was allegedly provided by one of the arrested individuals to the pair accused of planting a fatal device at Afroditi Nestora's home. Items found there, including clothing that appears to match descriptions of the suspects before and after the attack, are under intense scrutiny. The mobile phones seized from the arrested individuals are considered critical 'keys' to the investigation, potentially revealing crucial contacts and travel patterns.