The discovery lead to further six arrests in Athens, Thessaloniki and Corinth.
According to reports, the Greek coast guard spotted the 7-meter speedboat near the islands of Oinousses and Chios, (close to the Turkish coast). Following a thorough investigation, authorities found two anti-tank shells, four hand grenades, two handguns, 195 bullets and two explosive devices on the vessel.
Two Greeks, aged 22 and 51, were arrested on the boat along with two Turkish citizens aged 33 and 55. Another two people, a 50-year-old Greek and a 54-year-old Turk, were arrested at the port on Chios after being linked to the vessel.
One report in Kathimerini said that the two Greeks on the boat were not known to authorities but that the two Turks have criminal records. The 22-year-old noted that he had been paid 500 Euros to sail the speedboat to Turkish shores.
Following the arrests, counterterrorism officials were dispatched to the homes and hangouts of Turks and Kurds in the three cities. One of those arrested in Thessaloniki is wanted in Turkey for alleged membership of the extreme left-wing Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).
It should be reiterated that the aforementioned party is reportedely linked to the bombing of the US Embassy in Ankara in February.
Following the arrests Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Guler apparently identified one of the men arrested as Hasan Biber, (member of DHKP-C) whom is suspected of carrying out a raid on the headquarters of the ruling AK Party in March. Biber, 55, has also been linked to a hand grenade attack at the Justice Ministry in the same month.
Anti-tank missiles similar to the ones used in the raid at the AKP’s offices were found on the speedboat.
(Combined Reports)
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