A Polish national has been detained in Crete near a naval base after being suspected of military espionage.
Polish National Detained
Polish authorities confirmed the detention of one of their citizens in Greece on March 13. “We have confirmation of the detention of our citizen. Explanatory proceedings are underway. After their completion, a decision will be made whether charges will be filed,” stated PAP spokesman Maciej Wewiór.
Greek media reported that the man was detained near strategically important naval objects in Suda Bay, Crete, with authorities suspecting him of espionage.
Suspected Activities
The 58-year-old Pole had been living in Marathi, a coastal town near the Suda naval base, for several months. He entered Greece approximately four months ago, spending the last two in Crete. He was driving a car with Polish license plates and living in a caravan during this time, reportedly photographing piers at the military base, according to Greek City Times.
The arrest occurred after a concerned citizen reported suspicious activities to local authorities. The information was passed to police and coast guard, who detained the man on Thursday morning. The case is being handled by the National Intelligence Service, and the Pole denies all accusations.
Military Photography Claims
According to AFP, the Pole was photographing military ships entering the base used by the Greek navy and NATO forces, including the USA. He reportedly sent these photos to Poland.
The Suda Bay base has been a site of previous security concerns. Last year, a 36-year-old Georgian citizen was arrested there and convicted of illegal entry and stay. Greek authorities examined whether he was gathering information for Iran. An Azerbaijani citizen was also detained with numerous photos of the military base and charged with espionage.
Regional Security Concerns
In early March, Cypriot media reported the arrest of a man suspected of spying on the British military base in Akrotiri, Cyprus. He was reported to have ties with Iranian intelligence.
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