Three suspected metal thieves who allegedly cut natural gas pipes to steal copper were arrested Thursday in connection with last month’s explosion that rocked Athens’ Plaka neighborhood and killed six people, fire department sources said.
Investigators believe the suspects removed part of an inactive gas installation, but at the same time damaged the active supply line, causing the leak that led to the explosion and collapse of a two-story building on Lysikratous Street on September 25.
They were identified as two Greeks and an Albanian national who had previously been arrested for theft and drug-related offences.
The investigation was led by the Fire Department’s arson division, which gathered evidence in strict secrecy regarding the explosion that killed four U.S. citizens, a British subject and a Greek citizen.
Investigators reconstructed the explosion site, analyzed security camera footage and other audiovisual material, reviewed communications data, and systematically evaluated evidence recovered from the scene.
The investigation also involved designated experts, including electrical engineers and a chemist, as well as scientists from the metallurgical laboratory of the National Technical University of Athens. Their findings were combined with investigative evidence to establish the sequence of events and document the alleged link between the pipeline damage and the explosion.
Security cameras captured three men entering the building at 2 a.m. the night of the explosion and leaving with a stolen copper pipe. Another video that emerged Thursday showed a van carrying students driving past the site just seconds before the explosion hours later.
The gas leak is believed to have started when the suspects removed the pipe and the explosion occurred at 7:30 a.m. when a resident on the second floor – where the gas connection was active – turned on an electric light.
This story has been updated.
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