Greek Mayor Accused of Arson over Wildfire Near Athens
Investigators say the blaze started from power cables and damaged more than 120 buildings, while the suspects face arson and utility damage charges.
- On Friday, Greek authorities placed Stylida Mayor Giannis Apostolou and two others in pre-trial detention, charging them with arson over a wildfire that ravaged areas near Athens last week.
- Investigators believe the blaze ignited July 31 from power cables at a wind farm near Agios Vasileios, where residents unsuccessfully attempted to block installation more than 10 years ago.
- Fanned by wind gusts of up to 130kmh, the fire reached Mount Kithairon and damaged more than 120 buildings and homes in the seaside resort of Porto Germeno.
- Authorities suspended operations at the wind farm on the border of Boeotia and Attica; Apostolou and co-defendants face more than 10 years in jail if convicted of arson.
- Since late July, Greece has suffered dozens of blazes that left five people dead, including three firefighters and two helicopter crew members killed in a collision.
21 Articles
21 Articles
In Greece, three entrepreneurs have to go to pre-trial detention for alleged arson. They threaten to be detained for up to ten years in case of a guilty verdict.
Greek authorities on Friday arrested the mayor of a town and charged him with arson over a forest fire that devastated large areas of woodland near Athens last week.
The mayor in question is the owner of an electrical installation company, according to the national media, and is accused of the crime of "voluntary fire in a forest".
Forest fires in Zachouli, in the valley of Megara, Greece, on 2 August 2026. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki Greek Justice placed in custody the mayor of a locality in western Athens, accused of being responsible for the forest fire that devastated more than 11,000 hectares last week. ✅ Follow the international news channel of the g1 on WhatsApp According to public broadcaster Ertnews, after an interrogation that began on Wednesday morning and ended o…
The mayor of the town of Stylida (140 km northwest of the capital), as well as the owner of a wind farm and the technical manager of a company in charge of work on the park, were remanded in custody after long hours of testimony before a judge, reported the Greek press agency Ana. The mayor in question is the owner of this electrical installation company, according to the national media. They are accused, among other things, of crimes of "volunt…
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