Four arrests in ongoing crackdown on hooliganism

Greek police have arrested four members of a hooligan gang and launched a manhunt for two more over a slew of felonies, as part of a wider investigation by prosecuting authorities into sports-related violence.

Among those arrested is a 27-year-old woman who is thought to be gang’s leader and is known to authorities from past run-ins with the law.

The group was allegedly active from April 2019 until September 2021 in Athens and Piraeus. The perpetrators acted in groups of 15 to 40 people, attacking fans of rival teams and others with knives, bats, iron rods and petrol bombs.

According to information, some victims of such attacks have allegedly identified the perpetrators.

Authorities also subpoenaed the suspects’ telephone records to establish links between the alleged members of the gang, their plans for the attacks and the woman’s leading role.