Suspect arrested with guns, bullets at Greece-Turkey border

Greek authorities have arrested two heavily-armed British men near the country’s border with Turkey.

One of the three, a 40-year-old said to be of Kurdish Iraqi origin, had four firearms and 200,000 rounds in his possession when he was picked up at the Kipi border post on the Evros River which borders the two nations. Concealed inside it, police found 18 shotguns, 27,250 22mm bullets, 12,500 5.5mm bullets, currencies including Turkish Lira and Iraqi dirhams, and seven mobile phones.

A police official in Greece said there was now no evidence to connect any of the trio to Islamic State terrorists.

“Vigilance in the area is being stepped up”, said one security official, adding that the suspects were likely to have crossed into Greece from Italy.

Acting on a tip-off, the Greek police and coast guard set up a surveillance operation over several days which led to the arrest of the two British nationals at the entrance to Alexandroupoli port.

“We are in contact with local authorities in Greece following the arrests of three British nationals and are providing consular assistance”, a spokesman for Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.

The men, thought to be aged 35 and 40, are due to be taken before a local magistrate later on suspicion of illegal possession of weapon and smuggling.