Three people have been arrested in connection with the September 26 explosion in Plaka that killed six people. Investigators found that the suspects allegedly damaged gas pipes while attempting to steal copper piping.
Authorities reached this conclusion after examining a deformed pipe and reviewing security camera footage of the suspects.
According to the Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes, the suspects allegedly entered the building approximately five and a half hours before the explosion. They reportedly went to the ground-floor stairwell to cut a copper pipe connected to the gas meter, News 24/7 reported.
After the pipe was damaged, natural gas leaked into the stairwell, rose through the building and accumulated on the second floor. Investigators believe that a second-floor resident, who was among the six victims, may have turned on a switch after waking up that morning, creating a spark that ignited the gas.
The gas had also spread to other parts of the building, which investigators believe may have contributed to the explosion and the building’s collapse.
The three suspects face the following criminal charges:
- Intentional arson committed jointly, endangering human life and resulting in deaths.
- Intentionally causing an explosion jointly, endangering human life and resulting in deaths.
- Multiple counts of homicide with conditional intent, committed jointly.
- Multiple counts of dangerous bodily harm, committed jointly.
Sources: News 24/7, Kathimerini
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