NEWS

Gun fired by Maziotis had not been used in previous attacks

A USP 9 MM pistol fired by fugitive Nikos Maziotis at police officers prior to his dramatic arrest in central Athens on Wednesday had not been used in criminal or terrorist activity before, ballistic tests conducted by the police department showed on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Public Order Minister Vassilis Kikilias revealed on Thursday that a 25-year-old female member of the counter-terrorism squad had identified Maziotis outside a store in Monastiraki on Wednesday, before alerting authorities which in turn launched the operation that led to his arrest.

Speaking on local television channels on Thursday, Kikilias noted that Wednesday’s arrest had not been a ‘chance event’ and had led to important information and clues regarding the activities of urban guerilla organization Revolutionary Struggle, which Maziotis led.

Police operations continued on Thursday in an effort to discover one or possibly more hideouts used by Maziotis and his partner, Panayiota Roupa, who is also being sought by authorities.

Reports also suggested that counter-terrorism squad officers were focusing their efforts near Piraeus-Kifissia electric railway stations (ISAP) in Athens, based on information that Maziotis had been using public transport in recent weeks.

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