Police arrest two youths accused to cabbie muggings

Two youths believed to be members of a criminal racket behind the violent mugging of a number of Athens taxi drivers over the past six months were to face a prosecutor on Wednesday as police sought another two suspected accomplices.

The two suspects, aged 16 and 19, are both members of the Roma community, according to police.

Sources said the gang members hailed taxis in various parts of Attica and asked the drivers to take them to Ano Liosia or Aspropyrgos, northwestern Athens, where they used knives or guns to threaten the cabbies into handing over cash, cell phones and other valuables.