Greek Police

Greek police say an arson attack on the French cultural institute in Athens could be connected to a case of alleged police brutality near Paris last month.

A French policeman has been placed under formal investigation for suspected rape and three others for unnecessary violence on February 2 during the arrest of a 22-year-old man in Aulnay-sous-Bois outside the French capital.

Greek police said arsonists targeted the French cultural institute in Athens on Monday causing minor damage but no injuries.

A car parked outside the building was torched, damaging a second vehicle nearby. The unidentified attackers also smashed windows at the institute.

The Greek Police (ELAS) on Friday announced the arrest of nine suspected members of a major human trafficking racket moving migrants from Turkey to Greece, saying that five Greeks and four Pakistani nationals had been detained for questioning.

According to ELAS, the two suspected leaders of the racket are a Greek and a Bulgarian, both currently serving time in prison.

The works on the erection of the Muslim Mosque are in full flight, and the structure is estimated to be ready by the end of April. However, the President of the Muslim Association of Greece, Naim Elgandur expressed doubts about the progress of the works, saying he would only believe it when he went into the Mosque and actually prayed.

An association representing people with liver disease has backed a complaint lodged with Greece's Ombudsman by a former employee of the Greek Police who was allegedly dismissed after being diagnosed with Hepatitis B.

A 52-year-old Chinese national faced an Athens prosecutor on Friday following his arrest on Thursday at a central Athens hotel by Greek police who said he is wanted in the USA for allegedly trading in military-grade satellite modems aimed at collecting, decodifying and disseminating intelligence.

Greek police said on Feb. 8 that two more Turkish families have illegally entered the country across a border river and plan to request asylum, claiming they face persecution in Turkey.

Six Turkish nationals were detained on Feb. 8 after illegally crossing the border, Greek police have stated.        

The fugitives were taken into custody by border guard troops in the northeastern town of Orestiada after allegedly crossing the Maritsa River in plastic boats, according to a statement by the ELAS police organization.     

It's been a miserable winter in Greece, especially for the many thousands of refugees staying in tents in old factories and warehouses. At a tiny workshop in the northern city of Thessaloniki, they're trying to make a little bit of a difference.

The union representing Athens police officers on Wednesday filed suit against the administration of the Greek Police (ELAS) for putting officers' lives at risk.

The suit pertains to a gun attack on January 10 against a riot police unit posted outside the offices of the PASOK party in the downtown district of Exarchia, in which one policeman was injured.