Oct. 30 (UPI) — Three men were arrested Friday in connection with an explosion in Athens that killed six people on Sept. 25, including four Americans.
Two Greek men, ages 37 and 55, and one Albanian man, 34, were arrested for allegedly stealing copper gas pipes from a building, and authorities said their actions led to an explosion. They went before a court on Friday, and were allowed an extension until Monday to prepare their defense, according to fire service spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakoyiannis.
Police investigators haven’t said what charges they will pursue.
“According to the findings of the investigation, the three individuals are alleged to have sabotaged the pipe work of the natural gas installation in an attempt to steal copper pipes,” the fire service said in a statement. “Investigating their actions and establishing their connection to the explosion formed a central part of the inquiry.”
Security camera footage allegedly shows the men entering the building’s ground-floor stairwell before the explosion, Greek newspaper Katherimeni reported.
The explosion killed a married couple, Brit Edmond Hings, 78, and his Greek wife Athena Papaprescou, 77. The Americans killed were newlyweds on their honeymoon: Alexander Kirkpatrick, 37, and wife Florida Hoxha, 34; along with her brother, Florin Hoxha; and his pregnant wife, Eris Cani. They had already checked in for their flight home but hadn’t left yet.
The explosion collapsed the entire building.
Theft of copper electrical infrastructure is a common problem in Greece, particularly in rural areas. But theft of gas pipes is more rare.
