NEWS

In Brief

MURDER PROBE

Cretan police arrest British man in connection with his parents’ killings Police yesterday arrested the son of a murdered British couple in Hania, Crete, in connection to his parents’ death. Ryan Johnson, aged 32, was being held in police custody over the murder of Roger Johnson, aged 53, and his wife Josephine, aged 52. Coroners’ reports showed that the father had been stabbed and strangled on Saturday while his wife had been strangled to death with a rope. Ryan Johnson had previously told police he found the bodies at the couple’s Hania home. ISLAMIST DETAINED Pakistani wanted for manslaughter may have terrorist links, police say A 50-year-old Islamic leader from Pakistan has been in detention since his arrest on Saturday at Athens International Airport after authorities determined that he is wanted for manslaughter by authorities in his country. An investigation of the suspect by police following his arrest suggests he may have links to Islamic terrorist groups, sources told Kathimerini. The unnamed Pakistani had flown into Athens from London with the aim of conducting religious services for members of the Pakistani community in Greece, the same sources said. GREEK-LIBYAN TIES President to meet Khadafy in Tripoli President Karolos Papoulias arrived in Libya yesterday for a two-day visit during which he is expected to meet with Libyan leader Muammar Khadafy and Prime Minister Baghdadi el-Mahmoudi. Papoulias is accompanied by Culture Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis, the deputy ministers of foreign affairs and finance and a group of Greek businessmen. Bird flu A sample from a swan discovered in the region of Epanomi near Thessaloniki, which tested positive for the H5 strain of bird flu, has been sent to an EU laboratory for further tests, it was revealed yesterday. Authorities stressed that Greece is fully prepared to handle a possible bird flu pandemic. Since February 11, 32 cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus have been found in Greece, all in wild birds. Machines confiscated Police confiscated 444 electronic gambling machines in Thessaloniki in the first two months of the year after checking 814 cafeterias and Internet cafes in the broader area. Authorities arrested 175 people in connection to the operation of the illegal form of gambling and fined businesses a total of 5.4 million euros. Outstanding warrant A 48-year-old Albanian national was detained by police in Parga, northwestern Greece, yesterday over an outstanding warrant against him. Police said they recognized the man, who is accused of taking part in an attempted murder, after stopping him for a routine identity check. Baby ring Police are examining details of all 21 births by foreign nationals at a hospital in Lamia from August as they investigate a baby-selling ring involving woman from Bulgaria. Police said on Sunday that they have broken part of an international human trafficking ring, based in Lamia, which brings pregnant Bulgarian women into Greece and sells their babies to local families as a way to erase debts which the mothers cannot pay. Authorities are trying to determine the whereabouts of those 21 infants. Consumers Day The National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE) called on its members yesterday to reduce their prices for three days as part of European Consumers Day, which is tomorrow. The three-day period is scheduled to start today and will run through Thursday. ‘Psychic’ released Police yesterday released a 46-year-old woman arrested last week on charges of fraud after she had allegedly charged a man 41,500 euros in exchange for promising to solve his personal problems. The self-proclaimed psychic told police she had only charged him 3,000 euros.

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