In Brief
GANG TRACED
Six robbers netted almost 680,000 euros in Thessaloniki holdups Police said yesterday they are looking for two more people in connection with a series of bank robberies in Thessaloniki that netted a gang of six robbers almost 680,000 euros. Officers in Thessaloniki first arrested two suspected members of the group three months ago. Both men are Georgian nationals. Another suspect was arrested shortly afterward, while a fourth suspected member of the gang, it was later established, was shot dead during a raid on a post office in the Athens district of Kolonos in January. These men, along with the two suspects still at large, allegedly carried out 28 armed raids, mostly on banks, in Thessaloniki. Officers said they had been able to link the six men to the holdups after studying CCTV footage of the raids. MAY DAY DISRUPTION Public transport will be hit in series of strikes and work stoppages The public transport system in Athens will be hit by a series of strikes and work stoppages tomorrow as workers take part in May Day protests organized by the Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE). There will be no buses, trolleys, trams or intercity trains as a result of the strike. Also the metro and the Kifissia-Piraeus electric railway will not be running before 9 a.m. As far as air travel is concerned, there will be only one departure and one arrival from each domestic and international destination. A rally will be held at 11 a.m. at the Pedion tou Areos park in Athens. Demonstrators are then expected to hold a protest march that will end at the Economy and Finance Ministry. SMOOTH TRAFFIC? Police say no problems on roads Police said there were no major problems for vacationers returning from the Easter break yesterday. An estimated 1 million vehicles left from Athens for the long weekend but are returning only gradually as many vacationers appear to be extending their break due to the May Day public holiday tomorrow. Some drivers, however, complained of queues backing up for tens of kilometers in Mesolongi, central Greece, as they waited to cross the Rio-Antirio bridge. Despite the smooth traffic flow on the national highways, 21 people were killed on the country’s roads over the long weekend, in an estimated 170 car accidents. Rhodes winners Two residents of Rhodes yesterday won 1.5 million euros each on the National Lottery. The winning tickets, from the 14820 series, were bought at two different outlets on the Dodecanese island. The two winners, who will share the grand prize of 3 million euros, had not appeared to collect their winnings by last night. Prisoner dies An inmate at Nafplion prison in the Peloponnese was pronounced dead after being found in a comatose state late on Monday night, authorities said. The prisoner, who was not named, was taken to the local hospital but doctors there were unable to save him. Police in Nafplion have launched an investigation into the man’s death. Firecrackers Two men were arrested in the town of Nafplion, in the Peloponnese, yesterday after being found in possession of some 10,000 firecrackers. A man from Argos was also arrested after being caught with 1,800 fireworks. Youths arrested Police arrested two youths, aged 20 and 17, in Kouloura, northern Greece, for allegedly robbing a 77-year-old woman of her gold necklace, ring and 50 euros at knifepoint. Police said the two suspects, who broke into their victim’s home through the kitchen window, were found in possession of the stolen items.
