Greece: 11 arrests, arms seized in Turkey-linked terror raid

Sandiego Union Tribune ^ | Friday, March 20, 2020 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

The raids were carried out at two properties in Athens Thursday against alleged members of Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front, or DHKP-C, a group that is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.

Eleven people were arrested in the operation that involved the anti-terrorism division of the police and the National Intelligence Service, authorities said. They were charged Friday with terrorism-linked offenses. Their lawyers said the suspects denied the charges.

At one raided site, police said they found a makeshift underground storage room and tunnel, spanning a total length of 47 meters (154 feet) that ended in an adjoining vacant lot.

The weapons seized include two anti-tank launchers, two grenade launchers, four handguns and an automatic rifle. Computer and external hard drives and cellphones were also seized. It was unclear how the suspects had been allegedly planning to use the weapons.

DHKP-C is believed to have been present in Greece for years.

Last year, a Greek court cleared of terrorism and criminal arms charges nine people arrested in Athens ahead of a 2017 visit by Turkey's president and accused of belonging to the group.

[SunkenCiv]

Migrant Numbers Decrease on Turkey-Greece Border | Hamdi Firat Buyuk | Sarajevo | BIRN | March 19, 2020

The number of migrants trying to cross the border from Turkey into Greece border has decreased dramatically amid the coronavirus crisis, but some are refusing to abandon their attempts to get into the EU.

Far fewer migrants have been massing at the border between Turkey and Greece and some have left for the Turkish towns where they were previously accommodated, media have reported.

Migrants had flocked to the border areas as well as to sea ports after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced last month that Ankara would not stop them crossing the border in the wake of the country's heavy losses in the Syrian war.

Greek newspaper Ekathimerini reported on Wednesday that the number of migrants at the border areas has fallen to around 2,000.

However, tensions continue to flare, and Ekathimerini reported that Turkish and Greek border guards used tear gas on Wednesday during a clash as some 500 migrants tried to cross the border.

President Erdogan's visit to Brussels last week for a meeting with EU leaders and a video conference with Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday ended without a comprehensive solution for the migrant crisis.

Refugees in Edirne in Turkey try to reach the Greek border. Photo: EPA-EFE/TOLGA BOZOGLU

[SunkenCiv]

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[BenLurkin]

It’s an invasion, Jim.

[VanShuyten]

Thanks for an important story that isn’t corona beer virus related.

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure.