Three men arrested in Athens Plaka gas explosion that killed six people

Three men were arrested on Thursday evening, October 29, 2026, in connection with a deadly explosion in Athens' Plaka district. The blast occurred in a three-story neoclassical building and killed six people.

Police believe the suspects entered the building to steal copper pipes. Investigators say their actions damaged the internal natural gas installation, causing a gas leak that led to the explosion hours later.

“The three suspects are not unknown to the authorities as they have occupied the investigative authorities at least 50 times for thefts, robberies, weapons, drugs and serious bodily injuries.”

Security camera footage played a decisive role in the investigation. The footage shows three men entering the building around 2:00 a.m., shortly before the blast, and leaving in a hurry while carrying a large piece of copper pipe.

The fire department's arson investigation unit identified the suspects after 34 days of investigation under the supervision of prosecutorial authorities. The suspects are two Greek nationals and one Albanian national, aged 55, 34, and 37.

Authorities said the three men are known to police and have been involved at least 50 times in cases involving thefts, robberies, weapons, drugs, and serious bodily injuries. They are expected to appear before a prosecutor on Friday.

A school vehicle carrying 12 young students passed by the site at the moment of the explosion but escaped the tragedy. The suspects will now have to answer before the justice system for particularly serious crimes.