Three Suspects Arrested After Deadly Gas Explosion in Athens
Three people have been arrested in connection with a gas explosion in the Plaka district of Athens that killed six people and destroyed part of a two-story building. Investigators suspect the group was trying to steal copper when they damaged a natural gas pipe.
The suspects are two Greek nationals and one Albanian national. All three had been arrested in the past for theft or drug-related offenses. They are accused of cutting into gas pipes to take metal, though the investigation is focused on how the damage may have led to the deadly blast.
How the Pipe May Have Been Damaged
Investigators believe the suspects removed part of an unused gas installation inside the building. During that work, they may also have damaged a separate pipe that was still carrying gas. The damaged active line is believed to have leaked gas into the building.
The explosion happened in the morning on Lysikratous Street. It caused part of the two-story building to collapse. Six people died: four U.S. citizens, one British citizen, and one Greek citizen.
The suspected gas leak may have begun when the copper pipe was taken out. Investigators believe the blast happened when a resident on the second floor switched on an electric light. The gas connection on that floor was active.
Evidence From the Scene and Videos
Investigators worked to piece together what happened inside and around the building. They rebuilt parts of the blast scene and reviewed security-camera footage and other video and audio material. They also examined communication records and carefully studied evidence collected from the site.
One security video showed three men entering the building at about 2 a.m. on the night of the explosion. They were later seen leaving with a copper pipe believed to have been stolen. The footage is part of the evidence investigators used to examine the suspected theft and the damage to the gas line.
Another video showed a van carrying students passing the building only seconds before the explosion. It was recorded a few hours after the three men were seen leaving with the pipe.
Experts Helped Rebuild the Events
The investigation included technical specialists who examined evidence related to the blast. Appointed experts included electrical engineers and a chemist. Scientists from a university metallurgical laboratory also took part in the work.
The specialists’ findings were considered alongside the evidence gathered by investigators. Together, that material helped them work out the likely order of events and assess whether damage to the pipeline was connected to the explosion.
The inquiry examined the suspected copper theft, the condition of the gas pipes, the possible leak, and the blast that followed. Investigators’ current theory is that the removal of a section of pipe damaged the active gas supply, allowing gas to escape before an electrical light was switched on in the second-floor apartment.
What Investigators Are Examining
- Whether the suspects removed copper from an unused gas installation.
- Whether their actions also damaged the active gas line.
- How gas may have spread through the building before the explosion.
- Whether the video footage and technical findings support the suspected sequence of events.
The three arrests link the suspected metal theft to the investigation into the explosion. The key question is how the pipe was damaged and whether that damage caused the leak that led to the collapse and the deaths of six people.