In Brief
MANHUNT SUCCESS
Double-murder suspect arrested near Mount Olympus after tip-off A 43-year-old man – suspected of killing his estranged wife, with whom he has four children, and her partner over the weekend – was arrested yesterday in Leptokaria, near Mount Olympus. The man is believed to have shot his ex-wife’s partner on Saturday at the couple’s Halkidiki home before kidnapping her and shooting her on Sunday. The suspect had been hiding out in a tent on Mount Olympus, according to police, who arrested him following a call from a tourist in Leptokaria, who said a man had entered his rented room and stolen two mobile phones. RAILWAY SERVICES Trains back to normal after workers call off strike action Train services are to run as scheduled today and tomorrow after workers from the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) yesterday called off a series of work stoppages. The workers called off the strike after finding common ground during talks with OSE chiefs. MUSEUMS SHUT Archaeologists protest changes Museums and archaeological sites will be shut today due to a 24-hour strike called by the Archaeologists Union in protest at proposed changes by the Culture Ministry to the management of the country’s monuments. Deadly shrub Authorities in Cyprus have warned locals to be wary of the poisonous nature of a common shrub which grows on the island, following the death of woman who had eaten one of the plant’s seeds, the Athens News Agency said yesterday. The Thevetia neriifolia is a shrub or small tree with glossy dark green leaves and fragrant saffron yellow to orange or peach-colored flowers. All of its parts are considered highly poisonous. Fatal plunge One man was killed and another hospitalized yesterday on the Aegean island of Samos after the minivan they were riding in fell into the sea, the Merchant Marine Ministry said. The local coast guard said the 23-year-old was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital but his 22-year-old companion was not in any danger. Moment of silence The Interior Ministry has called on the country’s public servants to observe two minutes of silence at 2.00 p.m. today in memory of the people killed in the terrorist attacks on London last week. Petrol monitor The government has called on all prefectures to monitor petrol prices in their region and investigate incidents where fuel pricing levels are well above the national average. Senior ministers at the Development Ministry sent a letter yesterday to all prefectures, along with a list of nationwide gasoline prices in order to help prefectures monitor fuel prices in their area. Product recall Authorities are recalling a five-plug power socket from the market after discovering that it does not meet the required safety standards. The Chinese-made product sells under the trade name «Borax.» Oil leak An oil leak spreading over 500 square meters in the sea around Elefsina near Athens, which originated from a Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) plant, was contained «satisfactorily» yesterday, the Merchant Marine Ministry said. The petrol refinery appointed the clean-up operation to a private company, which started on the task shortly after the leak was noticed. Port authorities arrested four ELPE employees in relation to the incident. Police injured Five people were injured, including two police officers, in a three-car pileup yesterday when two vehicles collided and then crashed into a police patrol car in Schimatari, north of Athens. Holdup spree Three armed holdups occured within 25 minutes in eastern Thessaloniki yesterday, most likely by the same two men, police said. A Masoutis supermarket was targeted just past 1 p.m., when two armed men made off with an unknown amount by motorbike. A few minutes later a Marinopoulos store was hit for 1,800 euros and, lastly, the thieves opted for a lottery agency, netting another 250 euros.
