“Criminal organization with 158 members behind the murder of Lyggeridis in Rentis”

“Our commitment to combating sports violence and overall lawlessness is absolute. We will continue to work with a plan and determination for the safety of citizens and peaceful coexistence in our society.” This was emphasized, among other things, by the Chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Dimitris Mallios, in his statement regarding the operation carried out today to arrest individuals who were involved in the deadly attack with a naval flare against the 31-year-old MAT police officer, George Lyggeridis. on December 7, 2023 in Rentis.

As the Head of EL.AS pointed out, in the last months an extensive investigation was carried out under extreme secrecy which “brought to light” the existence of a criminal organization behind the attack, while confirming the association of sports violence with organized crime.

According to Mr. Mallios, 60 people have been arrested so far, while 58 houses and 15 vehicles were searched. At the same time, the file that has been filed includes evidence of a criminal organization, consisting of 158 members, which operated mainly in Attica, Volos and Ioannina

In detail, the statement of the Leader of the Hellenic Army:

“In the last 4 months, the Sub-Directorate for Combating Violence in Sports Venues of the Attica Security Directorate, with the assistance of the Criminal Investigations Directorate, conducted an extensive investigation under the utmost secrecy to fully elucidate the criminal hooligan attack in the area of ​​Rentis, which resulted in the death of YAT police officer Georgios Lyggeridis.

As is already known, in order to solve this murderous attack, from the first moment, more than 400 prosecutions had been made, so that no conviction was lost, while one person had been arrested and brought to justice.

Subsequently, the case file compiled included testimony, video and other findings that demonstrated the existence of a criminal organization behind the attack, while confirming a link between sports violence and organized crime.

In particular, evidence emerged of a criminal organization, consisting of 158 members, which, at least since 2019, committed felony and misdemeanor criminal acts and operated mainly in Attica, Volos and Ioannina.

In order to dismantle the criminal organization in question, from the early hours of this morning, as part of the ongoing preliminary investigation, a wide-ranging police operation was carried out, with the assistance of the EKAM. and police dogs, resulting in the arrest of 60 people so far.

At the same time, 58 searches have been carried out in houses and 15 in vehicles and a number of persuasive items such as pistols, wooden bats, knives, drugs, clothing, digital media and others have been seized.

Our commitment to combating sports violence and overall lawlessness is absolute. We will continue to work with plan and determination for the safety of citizens and peaceful coexistence in our society.”

Handcuffs on three leading executives of Gate 7

In a “sweep operation”, following a four-month investigation, authorities raided homes and arrested dozens of suspects for participating in a criminal organization and instigating incidents of sports violence. Among those arrested for the murder of 31-year-old police officer Giorgos Lyggeridis with a flare in Rentis is the man who gave the order for the murderous attack.

Four months after the incidents outside the “Melina Merkouri” stadium in Rentis, the authorities gathered the necessary evidence to proceed with other arrests of people who were involved in the events of December 7.

Information indicates that among those arrested are also three of the leading members of the Thira of the organized fans of Olympiakos. These individuals are said to have given orders and assigned roles in this criminal organization that the Police are investigating. The three specific arrestees have also concerned the Authorities and the Directorate for Combating Sports Violence many times.

In addition, those arrested include the 16-year-old brother of the 18-year-old who threw the flare, a trapper manager, a top executive of Gate 7 and another fan who bears a nickname of origin.

The arrests concern involvement in the case of the unfortunate policeman, but also participation in three more incidents of fan incidents. The first on December 3, 2023 in Volos on the sidelines of the match between Volos and Olympiakos, the second in the incidents that took place outside the stadium in the match between Olympiakos and Aris for the 3rd matchday of the Super League playoffs and the third in a match in Ioannina in December 2022, between the local team and the “red and whites”.

According to the police report, the case file includes more than 150 defendants.