Greek police arrest wanted Serbian national over suspected homicide plot in Thessaloniki

Covert operation at the Thessaloniki waterfront

Specialized police units conducted a targeted operation on the afternoon of Wednesday, 30 September 2026, in Thessaloniki, apprehending a 26-year-old Serbian citizen. Officers from the Sub-directorate of Organized Crime of Northern Greece, operating under the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, carried out the operation in absolute secrecy. Police initially deployed to a central hotel in the city following operational intelligence regarding the location of the suspect. Officers subsequently concentrated their actions on a well-known food and beverage establishment located in the Nea Paralia waterfront district. At approximately 18:30, police teams surrounded the cafe situated close to the hotel and moved in to detain the wanted individual alongside three companions. In total, four Serbian nationals were taken into custody during the synchronized sweep along the coastal avenue.

Intelligence warning of planned homicide

Police in Thessaloniki raised an operational alarm on Wednesday after receiving intelligence indicating that the wanted 26-year-old was present inside the city. Incoming reports warned Greek law enforcement that the Serbian citizen was potentially set to take part in a planned homicide on Greek territory. Following this notification, specialized organized crime investigators moved rapidly to locate the suspect and assess the threat posed by his presence. Greek security authorities are examining all available evidence to establish whether the suspect and his associates had already finalized preparations for the suspected criminal act. The prompt intervention was structured to intercept the group before any violent incident could be carried out in the region.

International search warrant and criminal record

The 26-year-old suspect was the subject of an active Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of judicial authorities for involvement in robbery cases. Serbian law enforcement agencies have also linked his name to multiple other criminal offenses and suspect him of membership in a criminal organization based in Serbia. Greek investigators are coordinating directly with their Serbian counterparts to finalize the full formal identification of the 26-year-old man. The four individuals detained during the waterfront operation had arrived in Thessaloniki on Saturday, 26 September 2026, four days before the police intervention. Greek authorities are currently investigating the specific background, documentation, and potential criminal records of the three other Serbian nationals apprehended in the establishment.

Ongoing verification and cross-border cooperation

Following the arrests at the cafe, all four men were taken in for questioning and further investigation by organized crime detectives in Northern Greece. Law enforcement personnel are conducting comprehensive checks to clarify the travel itinerary and lodging arrangements used by the group since their arrival on 26 September. Direct communication between Greek police services and Serbian authorities remains open to exchange operational files, criminal histories, and judicial documents. The investigation continues into the exact circumstances surrounding the group's stay in Thessaloniki and their suspected connection to the planned homicide plot. Judicial authorities in Thessaloniki are awaiting the finalized identification reports from the ongoing cross-border inquiry to proceed with legal and extradition formalities.