Greek police arrest 12 in latest operation against sports-related gangs

ATHENS, June 16 (Reuters) - Greek police have arrested at least 12 people during an operation to break up two gangs whose members they said were sports fans involved in drug trafficking, beatings, robberies and arson, they said on Monday.
The large-scale operation was still in progress, police said in a statement. The gangs, who possessed explosives, were active in the wider Athens area and involved in clashes with rival soccer supporters, they added.
Since the 2023 death of a policeman in clashes with hooligans in Athens, police have launched a major crackdown on criminality and violence surrounding sports.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Sun

37 minutes ago

• The Sun

Billi Mucklow glams up for Towie wedding – while ex Andy Carroll is quizzed by police over girlfriend rows

BILLI Mucklow looked sensational after glamming up for the wedding of her Towie pals Georgia Kousoulou and Tommy Mallett. The former Towie star, 37, sizzled in a bright red off-the-shoulder gown with sweeping sheer skirt at the lavish nuptials. 7 7 7 7 Billi's frock had a sexy thigh-high split and she looked stunning while posing with other members of the wedding party and gorgeous bride Georgia. The pictures of Billi at Georgia and Tommy's second wedding, which was held in Mallorca, come after her ex Andy Carroll was quizzed by police. The Sun on Sunday has exclusively revealed how the ex-Premier League footballer was questioned over bust-ups with his girlfriend Lou Teasdale on the Greek party island Mykonos. Carroll and make-up artist to the stars Lou are said to have rowed at a packed beachside restaurant and then at their hotel. One worker at the Nikolus Tavern said of the first argument: 'We recognised him as the footballer Andy Carroll immediately. 'He seemed very drunk and furious with his partner. 'He was using very bad words. It was improper behaviour. The woman looked very upset.' Police arrived after the first incident and took the former Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham ace to one side for a chat. He was later allowed to return to Lou. But just hours later, police were called again by alarmed staff after reports of damage to the couple's room at a £500-a-night boutique hotel. Officers are said to have escorted Carroll to a local station for questioning. He was not arrested and it is understood no further action was taken. A joint statement from Carroll and Lou said: 'Whilst having a private dinner in a restaurant on a quiet holiday in Mykonos, we had a heated discussion of the sort that most couples have had on occasion. It quickly became apparent to the police that there was no reason for them to be there. 'We went outside the restaurant with them together as they insisted they wanted to 'look after' us. 'As far as we are concerned, the situation has been blown out of all proportion by an interested member of the public. No one was arrested and no one was charged with anything. We are very happy, in love and looking forward to our future together and we are disappointed that a private disagreement has become a public matter.' The Mykonos hotel and police on the island declined to comment when contacted last night. Meanwhile, Billi touched down in Mallorca last week ahead of Georgia and Tommy's wedding. The mum-of-three, who also looks after Carroll's two eldest children from a previous relationship, looked incredible as she showed her ex what he is missing in a bikini. She has since shared a selection of photos from Georgia and Tommy's big day. They previously said 'I do' in 2023. Billi gushed: "Congratulations @georgiakousoulou & @iamtommyfordham. "The best day & night celebrating you both ❤️." Billi announced her split with Carroll in October last year. He confirmed his romance with Lou just weeks later. 7 7 7

The Independent

40 minutes ago

• The Independent

Imprisonment for public protection: Justice experts call for end of ‘cruel experiment'

Leading justice experts, led by Lord John Thomas and convened by the Howard League for Penal Reform, have proposed new measures to finally end the "cruel experiment" of imprisonment for Public protection (IPP) sentences. IPP sentences, abolished in 2012 but not retrospectively, have left 2,614 inmates, some jailed for minor offences, indefinitely incarcerated for up to 20 years longer than their original terms. The expert panel's six recommendations include giving release dates to those still in prison, ending the cycle of recall, enhancing the appeal process, and allowing IPP sentences to become "spent" after an appropriate period. The proposals aim to restore hope to prisoners, prevent further self-inflicted deaths (94 IPP prisoners have died in custody), and could free up prison places while saving taxpayers money. While the government has stated it will "carefully consider" the recommendations, it has previously rejected resentencing, despite the IPP sentence being widely condemned as a "monstrous blot" on the justice system.

Daily Mail​

an hour ago

• Daily Mail​

Ex-England football star Andy Carroll 'is questioned twice by police on Greek party island after restaurant and hotel bust-ups with girlfriend'

Ex-England football star Andy Carroll was questioned twice by Greek police over a series of bust-ups with girlfriend Lou Teasdale while the pair holidayed in Mykonos, it has been reported. Caroll, 36, was interrogated about the arguments with his make-up artist lover in a restaurant and at their hotel on the Greek party island, The Sun on Sunday reports. Speaking about the first incident, a worker at the Nikolus Tavern told The Sun on Sunday: 'He seemed very drunk and furious with his partner. 'He was using very bad words. It was improper behaviour. The woman looked very upset.' According to the restaurant worker, cops arrived and took the former footballer aside for a chat. He was later allowed to girlfriend Lou. 'Police spoke to him. He was allowed to return, and the couple left after paying for their meal. Andy was very calm when the police arrived — he stood up and spoke to them outside the restaurant', the restaurant worker added. Just hours later, cops were called again by hotel staff following reports of damage in their room, MailOnline understands that the former England striker was taken to the police station for questioning, but he was not arrested and no further action was taken. The incident was confirmed by a hotel employee, who claimed Carroll broke the door. That night, Lou left the hotel and spent the night at Soho Roc House. MailOnline has approached Carroll and Teasdale's representatives for comment. A joint statement from the couple given to The Sun said: 'Whilst having a private dinner in a restaurant on a quiet holiday in Mykonos, we had a heated discussion of the sort that most couples have had on occasion. It quickly became apparent to the police that there was no reason for them to be there. 'We went outside the restaurant with them together as they insisted they wanted to 'look after' us. 'As far as we are concerned, the situation has been blown out of all proportion by an interested member of the public. No one was arrested and no one was charged with anything. We are very happy, in love and looking forward to our future together and we are disappointed that a private disagreement has become a public matter.' The pair began dating last year after he separated from his TOWIE star wife Billi Mucklow last September. Carroll and Mucklow called it quits divorce after two years of turbulent marriage, the footballer confirmed last year. Andy Carroll GB Bordeaux during the French National 2 football match Girondins de Bordeaux against Saint-Pryve Saint-Hilaire at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux South West of France on November 9, 2024 In 2022, their wedding was almost called off when Carroll was pictured drunkenly passed out in bed with two women in Dubai on his stag do. Mucklow forgave him after one of the women insisted nothing sexual happened. Less than two years after their nuptials, the couple's marriage was over - with Carroll confirming they had started divorce proceedings after 'a hard few months for our family'. Carroll said in a statement at the time: 'Billi and I have privately separated earlier this year and we are under way with our divorce proceedings'. 'It has been a hard few months for our family and we continue to move forward amicably for our children.' Carroll and Mucklow have three children together Arlo, Wolf, and Marvel Mae and she also raises his two children Emilie Rose, 15, and Lucas, 14 from his past relationship.