Yiannis Michalidis

Counter-terrorism officers in Athens have raided what they believe to be a second hideout of an escaped convict and suspected member of an urban guerrilla group who was arrested on January 30 while on the run from prison. The suspect, identified as Yiannis Michalidis, had been convicted to 13 years in prison for an armed attack against police in 2015.

Counter-terrorism officers in Athens have discovered what they believe to be the hideout of an escaped convict and suspected member of an urban guerrilla group who was arrested on January 30 while on the run from prison. The suspect had been convicted to 13 years in prison for an armed attack against police in 2015.

Greek Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated the country's counterterrorism unit for the arrests made during a raid in an Athens suburb on Wednesday.

"I would like to congratulate the leadership and staff of the counterterrorism unit for yet another great success. Every victory in the fight against terrorism is also a victory for our democracy," he said in a tweet.

Three people were arrested in an ongoing counterterrorism operation in northern Athens on Wednesday, a police spokesman said Thursday.

Three people were arrested in a counter-terrorism operation early Thursday morning, including a prison escapee.

According to information, authorities detained Yiannis Michalidis, an alleged member of the urban guerrilla group Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire, who had escaped from the agricultural prison of Tyrintha in the Peloponnese on June 2019.