Greek authorities have arrested three individuals—two Greek citizens and one Albanian national—in connection with a fatal building explosion that occurred in Athens’ historic Plaka district this past September. According to the investigation conducted by the fire department, the explosion was triggered by the theft of copper components from the building’s gas infrastructure. Investigators determined that the suspects entered the two-story building during the night of September 25 to remove copper piping. The damage caused to the gas lines resulted in a significant leak, which led to the explosion hours later when a resident turned on a light switch. The tragedy claimed the lives of six people: two American couples, one British national, and one Greek woman. The force of the blast caused the building to collapse almost entirely and inflicted damage on surrounding homes and businesses, with debris and glass shards scattered several streets away. The investigation concluded more than a month after the incident. Experts from the National Technical University of Athens identified the precise location of the gas leak, which allowed investigators to analyze surveillance footage from the area. The recordings show three individuals approaching the building at approximately 2:00 a.m., roughly five and a half hours before the explosion. Two of the suspects were seen entering the stairwell and exiting shortly thereafter carrying a copper pipe. Experts concluded that the removal of the pipe compromised the integrity of the gas system. The leaking gas accumulated within the structure and ignited when a resident operated an old light switch in the early morning hours.
Article source: Magyar Hirlap | Image credit: Magyar Hirlap