Police are ‘closing in’ on N17’s Xeros
Police sources indicated on Thursday that the force was closing in on convicted November 17 terrorist Christodoulos Xeros, who remained at large late last night after violating a prison furlough.
Justice Minister Haralambos Athanasiou and Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias visited the Maximos Mansion on Thursday evening to brief Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on the progress of the investigation.
Counterterrorism officers on Thursday questioned Alicia Romero, the Spanish girlfriend of Xeros’s brother, Savvas, as well as a young teacher who is alleged to have become involved with Xeros during his previous furloughs. According to unconfirmed reports, police searched the central Athens homes of both women.
A police investigation that is trying to piece together Xeros’s movements since Sunday, which was the last time he reported to police in Halkidiki, northern Greece, in line with his furlough obligations, suggests the 55-year-old went to Thessaloniki before traveling on to Athens, where he visited his sister at her home near Attikis Square. The teacher, who Xeros is believed to have met during a visit to his native island of Icaria, is said to live in the same area.
Police believe that Xeros traveled to Athens in a car being driven by his nephew and sources indicated on Thursday that the pair can be seen in footage from a security camera at one of the toll gates on the Athens-Thessaloniki national highway.
The nephew is alleged to have told police that he was not aware driving his uncle to Athens constituted a violation of the conditions of Xeros’s furlough and claimed Xeros had told him he intended to visit some friends before returning to Korydallos Prison, where he was serving multiple life sentences.
