N17 DNA tests to finish this month
Police forensics experts working to match genetic material found in two November Athens 17 safehouses with DNA samples from detained terrorist suspects are expected to have finished by the end of the month, sources close to the investigation said yesterday. The results of the first tests, conducted on five human hairs discovered in the Kypseli and Pangrati hideouts, were handed over to investigating magistrate Leonidas Zervobeakos yesterday. Police laboratory technicians were able to identify three of the hairs as belonging to detainee Savvas Xeros and a fourth to his younger brother, Vassilis. The fifth was found to belong to a woman, but not to the only female N17 detainee, Angeliki Sotiropoulou. The sources denied that DNA samples would be taken from the companions of N17 suspects Alexandros Yotopoulos and Savvas Xeros, as the women in question have not been charged in connection with the extremist group’s activities. Suspects may query the results, whereupon the tests will be repeated before an expert appointed by the suspects.
