“I’m a member of ISIS, they were giving me orders for the fires,” said the Palestinian suspect in the Hymettus arson cases – He had been arrested 20 other times

Even claiming to be a member of ISIS, the 32-year-old Palestinian, now in police custody for the Hymettus arsons and sexual assaults against underage girls and a 58-year-old woman in Aigaleo, made shocking statements.

In his testimony to the Arson Crime Division, the man said that a man he met in Turkey paid him €100 to set fires and that this individual was one level above him in ISIS.

When asked to describe this man, the Palestinian (a Syrian national) changed his story, saying that the person giving him money was not a human being but a prophet.

His contradictions continued when he later stated that no one told him what to do, and that he acted alone because it “clears his mind.”

After his testimony, the Fire Department notified the Greek National Intelligence Service (EYP), which will verify the claims made by the 32-year-old Palestinian.

Arrested 20 times for various offenses
The 32-year-old was brought before the Prosecutor for the arson and harassment cases. However, according to Mega, he had previously been arrested 20 times for different offenses.

Reports indicate that he entered Kos illegally in May 2024, claiming to be a war refugee, which allowed him to obtain a residence permit in Greece. Now, however, the Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, has requested a review of the asylum status he received.

Authorities explain that threats to public safety or convictions for criminal offenses justify the revocation of asylum protection. The same procedure will automatically be applied in all cases where asylum holders commit criminal offenses.

The Palestinian suspect’s criminal record
Authorities were already aware of the Palestinian suspect from previous arson cases and an attempted murder case.

Last May, the 32-year-old attacked someone with a knife, was arrested, brought before the courts, but was released under restrictions.

On September 7, he set fire to a forested area in Vyronas, near Karea Avenue. The Fire Department had evidence linking him to three other arsons in the same area last June.

After the fire, the Arson Crime Division used visual material, videos, photos, and witness statements to identify the 32-year-old as the perpetrator who ignited the Hymettus forest fire with a lighter.