Greek authorities were placed on high alert over the presence in Thessaloniki of a 26-year-old Serbian national wanted under an Interpol Red Notice, who was arrested on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 30, by officers from the Organized Crime Subdirectorate of Northern Greece.
Thessaloniki: Suspected involvement in a planned murder on Greek soil
According to information received by authorities, the 26-year-old had been staying at a central hotel in Thessaloniki. Particular weight was given, however, to intelligence reports suggesting that the young man may have been connected to a planned criminal act on Greek territory — specifically, a possible premeditated murder.
This possibility is currently under investigation and, as of yet, no official confirmation has emerged that a specific assassination plot existed or that the 26-year-old had been assigned a defined role. Nevertheless, this intelligence appears to have been a key factor in mobilizing law enforcement and ultimately locating the suspect.
The operation at the waterfront
The 26-year-old was located at a restaurant within the Thessaloniki Sailing Club, in the city’s new waterfront area near a well-known hotel, where officers moved in and carried out the arrest.
During the same operation, three additional individuals were brought in for questioning, as authorities examine the Serbian national’s contacts and movements during his stay in the city, as well as the reasons behind his trip to Greece.
According to reports, the 26-year-old had crossed into Greece the previous Saturday, September 26. Greek authorities were subsequently notified of his presence in the country, and the process of tracking him down was set in motion.
The Interpol Red Notice
The 26-year-old was subject to an Interpol Red Notice in connection with a robbery case. According to available information, his name has also come to the attention of Serbian authorities in relation to other criminal activities.
Beyond the proceedings related to his international wanted status, investigators are now focused on establishing exactly what he was doing in Thessaloniki, who he made contact with following his arrival in Greece, and — most critically — whether the intelligence pointing to a planned criminal act had any factual basis.
