The latest developments in the case of the deadly arson attack on Marfin Bank in May 2010 appear to be opening the door to a review of other unsolved cases. The three new arrests are reportedly linked to a broader anarchist cell whose members have repeatedly come to the attention of law enforcement authorities in recent years.
In the early hours of Monday morning, British authorities arrested a 46-year-old woman at Gatwick Airport, acting on an Interpol Red Notice issued by Greek authorities in connection with the Marfin case. Although she had previously indicated her intention to travel voluntarily to Greece to appear before authorities, she was ultimately arrested on British soil. The 46-year-old continues to deny any involvement and maintains her innocence.
The reactivation of the investigation began when new photographic material reached the relevant authorities, accompanied by an anonymous email. These elements prompted investigators to reopen the file on this high-profile case, leading to new investigative steps and, ultimately, to the recent arrests.
Marfin Bank arson attack: The photos that revealed the identities of the perpetrators
Photographs found on the computer of an anarchist arrested in 2020 on weapons charges show specific individuals engaged in attacks shortly after the Marfin arson, according to journalist Vasilis Lampropoulos.
The footage shows the black clothing worn by the suspects when they threw Molotov cocktails into the bank, as well as distinctive markings carried by at least one of them in their backpack.
These photographs effectively “betrayed” their identities and their presence at the Marfin branch, ultimately leading to the new arrests.
The suspects are alleged to have planned their attacks both before and after the bank arson.
Among the charges they face are attacks on public buildings, including the Athens Prefecture headquarters.
According to Vasilis Lampropoulos, it has been established that some of the perpetrators belong to a wider network of individuals linked to activities following the dismantling of the November 17 terrorist organization, including the kidnapping of businessman Giorgos Mylonas and attacks on prison officers.
Police officials believe that some of the suspects belong to a group that has been on law enforcement’s radar for several years.
The role of the three arrested suspects
According to police, the Molotov cocktail attack on the bank was a coordinated operation involving a total of 12 individuals, divided into groups with distinct roles — both executors and coordinators. Seven of them attacked a nearby bookstore, while the remaining five moved toward the bank. To avoid identification, the participants referred to each other by numbers rather than names.
The two 42-year-old men arrested and the 46-year-old woman apprehended in the United Kingdom were assigned the numbers 8, 10, and 11 respectively.
Suspect number 8 was known as “the tall one.” He is 42 years old, stands 1.91 meters tall, comes from a wealthy family, and has a prior arrest record for drug offenses. He was identified as carrying a backpack with a distinctive hand-painted design and a small cross — and appears to be the person who smashed the bank’s glass window with a sledgehammer.
The second suspect, assigned number 11, is also 42 years old, works as a utility line technician, and previously lived in squats in central Athens. He appears to be the individual who gave instructions during the attack.
The 46-year-old woman, reportedly assigned number 10, has been living in Brighton, England in recent years. She has two children, works at Gatwick Airport, and pursues photography as a hobby.
According to Greek Police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou, the anonymous email was not the sole or decisive piece of evidence in the case.
“This email was a standard part of the case file. However, that does not mean that the investigators did not already have evidence in hand when they launched the investigation,” she stated.
She also noted that not only photographs but additional digital data were utilized, analyzed using modern technological capabilities.
The Greek Police spokesperson emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, as the case file references additional individuals who participated in the attack. “We are not only talking about these three suspects. There are other participants in the attack, and for us, the investigation does not stop here,” she said.
A timeline of the tragedy
After 16 years of investigation, authorities now appear to be closing in on solving the deadly arson attack on the Marfin Bank branch on Stadiou Street for the first time. The attack took place on May 5, 2010, during a protest against Greece’s first austerity memorandum, and claimed the lives of three bank employees.
During the attack, unknown assailants threw Molotov cocktails and flammable materials into the bank branch, causing a fire to break out.
Trapped by the flames on the building’s third floor were Angeliki Papathanasopoulou, 32 years old and four months pregnant, Epaminondas Tsakalis, 36 years old, and Paraskevi Zoulia, 35 years old. All three died from asphyxiation.
