The two Turkish nationals sought in relation to the recent shooting incident involving Greek National Intelligence Service (EYP) agents in Thermi, Thessaloniki, have been found and are currently detained in Bulgaria.
The pair was apprehended early Tuesday morning under a European arrest warrant. Three days earlier, a 49-year-old compatriot had been arrested, allegedly the individual who fired at the EYP agents. The two Turks who fled to Bulgaria were in the same vehicle during the incident and are facing charges for complicity in attempted murder as co-perpetrators.
The suspects are aged 23 and 43. According to protothema.gr, the younger man resided in Greece under asylum seeker status and had previously been detained by Greek authorities for drug-related offenses. He is believed to be the individual who exited the 4×4 vehicle last Tuesday afternoon and approached the EYP agents, though it remains uncertain if he also fired shots alongside the 49-year-old at the targeted vehicle.
The 43-year-old suspect was living illegally in Greece but had no prior issues with the authorities.
Both individuals are known to Turkish law enforcement. The 23-year-old is allegedly a wanted person in Turkey, while the 43-year-old has a criminal history there.
Reports indicate that the two men were arrested around 3:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Bulgaria–Turkey border. Their intended final destination remains unknown.
Their detention, which was executed based on European arrest warrants today, was facilitated by information provided by Greek officials to their Bulgarian counterparts. They were apprehended in the Svilengrad area, near the border.
Following their arrest, the extradition procedures to Greece are expected to commence so they can face judicial authorities in Thessaloniki.
The 49-Year-Old Turk Testifies
In the meantime, the 49-year-old Turkish man appeared before the 5th Examining Magistrate in Thessaloniki to provide testimony.
The driver of the SUV, who opened fire, is being prosecuted for attempted murder as a co-perpetrator and for illegal possession and use of a firearm. In his initial statement, he claimed that he didn’t recognize the EYP agents and acted out of fear, believing he was being threatened by individuals connected to the Turkish regime.
He was arrested early last Saturday in Kato Vyrsini, a village in the mountainous Rhodope region, and was reportedly attempting to escape to Bulgaria.
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