Sabotage of natural gas pipelines — carried out with the intent to steal copper — has been identified as the cause of the deadly explosion that shook Plaka on the morning of September 25, 2026, according to findings announced by the Hellenic Fire Service. After 34 days of investigation, three individuals were identified, and arrest warrants were issued against them by the competent judicial authorities in Athens.
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Plaka: The three suspects behind the deadly explosion
The suspects include two Greek nationals and one Albanian citizen, who, according to the Fire Service, allegedly caused the deliberate damage to the gas installation in order to steal copper pipes. Investigating their actions and establishing their direct link to the explosion formed the central focus of the case.
The investigation was led by the Arson Crime Investigation Directorate (ACID), under the supervision of prosecutorial authorities. From the day of the tragedy through October 29, specialized officers worked under conditions of strict confidentiality, combining criminal investigation techniques with the scientific examination of physical evidence.
Reconstructing the scene to piece together the sequence of events
A critical step in the investigation was the full reconstruction of the explosion site. Investigators worked to map the position of all physical evidence and the relationships between individual findings, allowing them to rebuild the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.
This process was accompanied by a thorough analysis of audiovisual material and the use of data obtained following the lifting of communications confidentiality orders. Physical evidence collected at the scene was also systematically evaluated, with all individual findings examined in combination to build a comprehensive picture of what occurred.
The role of expert witnesses and the National Technical University of Athens
Particular emphasis was placed on the scientific documentation of the investigation’s conclusions. The ACID collaborated with court-appointed expert witnesses, electrical engineers, and a chemist, as well as with the scientific staff of the Metallography Laboratory of the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).
According to the Fire Service, the specialized forensic examination of the physical evidence — combined with the evaluation of investigative findings — strengthened the documentation of the case, ultimately leading to the identification of the three individuals and the issuance of the arrest warrants.
