Vicious crime on Andros, elderly man strangled and burnt

A man, aged 89 years, was found strangled on the island of Andros, the northernmost island of the Greek Cyclades archipelago. The assailants had killed the man before trying to burn his body. Residents of the Gavrio village of Andros, where the crime took place, are in a state of shock as relatives and friends of the deceased are being called to testify.

Police from Athens and the island of Syros have been on the island since yesterday and are examining all possibilities. There are thoughts that the crime could be linked to a double murder that took place on Aegina, an island on the Saronic Gulf. There are links between the two incidents such as an attempt to burn victims after they had been brutally attacked and killed. Furthermore, in both cases the victim seemed to have known their murderer without any sign of forced entry into their house.

The earlier crime had involved the burning of a woman, aged 71, and her nephew, aged 44.

The fire had not consumed the full body of the man killed on Andros. He was found half-burnt with a belt tightly fastened around his neck.

The coast guard on the island has sealed any form of escape with checks on all those who enter or leave the island.

The old man lived alone and had been robbed a month earlier when thieves had stolen his pension of 900 euros. He was also found wrapped with a belt around his neck, however his robbers had not killed him.

The coroner has yet to release his findings.