Authorities in Thessaloniki are focusing on the mobile phones of three suspects arrested in connection with the arson attack on the home of Afroditi Nestor — an assault that resulted in the fatal burning of her mother, Vagia Nestor. Speaking on MEGA on 13 June 2026, ELAS spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou revealed that the suspects reacted strongly when police seized their phones and other digital evidence. According to Dimoglidou, investigators believe these devices may hold critical clues about the identities of other individuals involved in a series of arson attacks targeting homes of New Democracy (ND) officials in Thessaloniki.
Unexpected Arrests
The three suspects — a 29-year-old man, a 24-year-old man, and a 26-year-old woman — were reportedly caught off guard by the speed of their identification and arrest. Dimoglidou described them as having been ‘taken in their sleep’, underscoring how unprepared they were for such swift action.
Digital Evidence May Reveal Responsibility
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Investigators suspect this information may be uncovered within the seized digital material. Dimoglidou added that dozens of criminal files have been opened over the past two years concerning similar incidents.
Legal Proceedings Underway
The trio appeared before the public prosecutor on Saturday following a major anti-terrorism operation across several Thessaloniki neighborhoods. They are scheduled to give formal statements on Tuesday. They face multiple charges, including homicide with possible intent, founding a terrorist organization, and illegal possession of explosives.
Roles of the Three Suspects
According to investigative findings, the 29-year-old man and the 26-year-old woman are believed to be the pair who planted the explosive device that killed Vagia Nestor. Authorities assess they were not involved in two earlier arson attacks carried out the same day — one targeting former ND MP Stratos Simopoulos and another against the president of ND’s Thessaloniki Executive Committee. Investigations into those incidents remain ongoing.
Crucial to identifying the suspects were their movements before and after the attack. Investigators found repeated surveillance of the area by the suspects, and their safehouse was located just meters from the explosion site. Security camera footage captured distinctive features of the perpetrators. Police also cross-referenced this visual data with individuals already known to authorities from anti-establishment circles.
The third suspect, aged 24, is the owner of the apartment allegedly used as the safehouse. Sources indicate he plans to argue during his statement that he was unaware of the intended use of his property and had no involvement in the attacks.
The mastermind behind the crime remains unidentified.