ATHENS, March 2 (Reuters) - Greek police have detained a 36-year-old man on suspicion of spying on a naval base on the island of Crete, a strategic facility for the United States in the eastern
Greece detains man on suspicion of spying on US naval base in Crete, sources say
Suspected Espionage Incident at U.S. Naval Base in Crete
Detention and Initial Investigation
ATHENS, March 2 (Reuters) - Greek authorities have detained a 36-year-old man on suspicion of spying on a U.S. naval base on the island of Crete, a strategic facility for the United States in the eastern Mediterranean, police and intelligence sources said on Monday.
The man was detained at Athens’ airport on information by the country’s intelligence service.
Strategic Importance of Souda Bay
Souda Bay in Crete is home to military facilities for Greece, the U.S. and the NATO military alliance, and recently, the U.S. aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford had visited the base for resupply before sailing to the Middle East.
Ongoing Investigation and Evidence
Greek authorities have launched an investigation into the case, the officials said, adding that digital evidence was being examined.
Digital Evidence and Suspect’s Background
Photographs of the U.S. aircraft carrier were found on the suspect's phone and authorities were investigating potential links with a person in Iran through a mobile application, a Greek intelligence source said.
Suspect’s Arrival and Activities
The man, a Georgian national, arrived from Germany on February 3 and was staying at a hotel near Souda last month. He has not yet made any statement on the accusations, according to the sources.
Related Espionage Cases and Security Measures
In June, Greek police arrested another man on suspicion of espionage, who had also been staying for days at a hotel near the naval and air force base in western Crete that has tightened security since Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran on Saturday.
Possible Connections Between Cases
Authorities are investigating whether the two cases are linked.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Yannis Souliotis in Athens, Writing by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
