In Brief
SCHOOLS CLOSED
Northern, northwestern Athens and eastern Attica affected Damage caused to plumbing and heating systems by the freezing weather over the weekend prompted authorities to keep many schools closed in the Greater Athens area today. Schools at all levels will remain closed in Ekali, Kifissia, Nea Erythraia, Palaia and Nea Penteli, Maroussi, Pefki, Lykovrisi, Vrilissia, Metamorphosis, Melissia, Halandri, Aghia Paraskevi, Iraklion and Menidi. All schools in Eastern Attica, excepting in Vouliagmeni, will remain closed. In northwestern Athens, schools will be closed in Phyle, Ano Liosia, and Zephyri. The Costea-Geitonas and Kaisaris private schools at Vari will function. Piraeus schools will be open. Teachers will be at closed schools to prepare for classes resuming tomorrow. RESCUE AT SEA Turkish sailors picked off freighter An army helicopter and a nearby cargo ship, the Tigra, rescued 10 Turkish sailors from the freighter Zorer Kardesler as it began to list and take on water in a storm off the southern Cretan harbor of Aghia Galini on Saturday. The 10 crewmen, who were all in good health, were then ferried to the port of Iraklion by a Super Puma all-weather helicopter, the Merchant Marine Ministry announced. The Zorer Kardesler remained afloat but was listing at 20 degrees, the ministry said. It was carrying fertilizer from the Greek port of Volos to Tunis. Drugs arrests Police in western Athens have arrested two Greek men and an Albanian woman on suspicion of trafficking in large quantities of drugs, authorities said yesterday. Officers found 25,031 ecstasy pills, 1.3 kilos of heroin, 780 grams of cocaine, and smaller quantities of cannabis in the suspects’ possession. The ring was allegedly active in the suburbs of Ilion, Petroupolis and Peristeri. Meanwhile, police in Attica arrested two Albanian men in Ano Patissia and Thission, who were allegedly part of a heroin-trafficking gang. Over 2.2 kilos of heroin were confiscated. Double rape A Russian national has been arrested in the Thracian village of Ardanio, in the Evros region, on charges of rape and grievous bodily harm to two foreign women, police said yesterday. The 23-year-old suspect, whose name was not made public, allegedly entered the women’s house and stabbed them with a screwdriver, seriously injuring them. He then raped the women and lightly wounded a third who tried to stop him. All three were taken to hospital in Alexandroupolis. The nationality of the victims was not known. Illegal immigrants Police and border guards in Thrace arrested nine illegal immigrants yesterday, as well as two foreign nationals who were driving the group to Athens in two cars. The detainees’ identities were not made public.
