Man arrested as suspected member of ISIS led before public prosecutor in Athens

A 40-year-old Iraqi man arrested as a suspected member of the Islamist terror group ISIS was on Friday led before an Athens public prosecutor under heavy security measures. He was charged with participation in the terrorist organisation ISIS and for terrorist acts, including homicides, committed in other countries.

The suspect was arrested in central Athens on Thursday, in an operation involving the Hellenic Police counter-terrorism squad and the National Intelligence Service.

After the prosecutor, he was led before an examining magistrate and given until Monday to prepare his testimony. The accused had no lawyer and the magistrate ordered a court-appointed lawyer to represent him.

Based on evidence held by prosecuting and judicial authorities, the 40-year-old had also been arrested on December 7 by the Attica Aliens Department on charges of belonging to a criminal organisation, facilitating illegal entry and departure from the country, possessing passports and travel documents belonging to third parties and several counts of forgery, fencing and weapons law violations. He had then been released on bail with conditions.