Egyptian man received grenade in a paper cup – Target of planned attack remains a mystery

The Directorate for Combating Organised Crime is continuing its investigation to determine precisely who was the intended target of a life prisoner convicted of murder and held at Diavata Prison, who allegedly “recruited” a 30-year-old Egyptian man to collect a grenade from a 27-year-old Greek man already known to the authorities.

The 27-year-old Greek suspect, who has been identified and is being sought, was arrested in December 2024 and later released under restrictive conditions for alleged involvement in the criminal organisation of a notorious Albanian offender known by the aliases “Monti” or “Uncle”.

The organisation was allegedly involved in drug trafficking in Athens’ southern suburbs and was reportedly directed from prison. Among other offences, its members were accused of blowing up a grill restaurant in Marousi in November 2023 as part of an extortion scheme.

Police raided and searched a residence believed to have been used by the 27-year-old, where they found a loaded revolver.

Over the past week, officers from the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime had advised a number of possible targets to leave their homes temporarily as a precaution. Police protection was also increased for some individuals, including former Supreme Court prosecutor Isidoros Dogiakos.

Dogiakos reportedly believes that he may have been the intended target. However, according to available information, this has not yet been confirmed by the authorities.

The 30-year-old Egyptian man arrested in possession of the grenade, which had been wrapped with plastic cable ties, had previously come to the attention of police in connection with drugs.

He reportedly claimed that the 31-year-old Egyptian life prisoner had hired him from inside prison to carry out an attack, without yet revealing the intended target.

A mobile phone was found in the alleged organiser’s cell and is now being examined by the Hellenic Police forensic laboratories. Investigators hope the device may provide answers about the intended target.

Timeline of the case

On 23 July, the Department for Combating the Illegal Movement and Trafficking of Goods launched a preliminary investigation after receiving an anonymous tip concerning a dangerous 30-year-old Egyptian national.

The man had previously been arrested for drug-related offences and was subject to restrictive conditions. According to the information received, he was allegedly planning to detonate explosives or set fire to a food and beverage business in Attica in the immediate future.

Acting on the tip, officers opened an investigation to assess its credibility. During the process, they identified the foreign national and confirmed his criminal record.

At midday on 24 July, a police team located and placed the suspect under surveillance as he travelled from Kifissia to Glyfada.

After a series of preparatory movements, officers observed him meeting the 27-year-old Greek suspect and quickly receiving a small object resembling a paper cup. The exchange lasted only a few seconds.

Officers then stopped the 30-year-old and carried out a search. Among the items found and seized was a defensive-type hand grenade, wrapped in black plastic cable ties and appearing, upon initial inspection, to be operational.

The man was subsequently taken to the headquarters of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime and arrested.

The investigation indicated that the 31-year-old Egyptian national, who is also a defendant in the case, had instructed the 30-year-old to attend the meeting and collect the grenade.

The 31-year-old is serving a sentence at a prison in Thessaloniki and allegedly ordered the grenade to be planted or thrown at a target in Attica.

A search was subsequently carried out in his cell in the presence of a representative of the judicial authorities. Officers found and seized a mobile phone that appears to have been used for the relevant conversations and to provide instructions to the 30-year-old.

With the assistance of a prosecutor and a team from the Special Counter-Terrorist Unit, officers also searched a residence in Glyfada which the 27-year-old Greek suspect had been seen entering earlier.

During the search, officers found a revolver inside a secured safe in his bedroom. The bedroom door had been locked and had to be forced open. Five cartridges were loaded into the revolver’s cylinder.

The official Hellenic Police statement

Police issued the following official statement:

“The Directorate for Combating Organised Crime has solved a case involving a planned grenade attack in Attica, which was prevented following the appropriate evaluation of intelligence and a coordinated police operation.

“As part of the operation, and following the appropriate assessment of available intelligence, two people were arrested by officers from the Department for Combating the Illegal Movement and Trafficking of Goods, with the assistance of the Sub-Directorate for Combating Crimes Against Life and Property, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit and police dog handlers.

“The suspects are a 30-year-old foreign national and a 31-year-old compatriot who is already being held at a prison in northern Greece. A 27-year-old Greek national is also included in the case file.

“More specifically, at midday on 24 July 2026, the 30-year-old was located in an area of Attica during a meeting with the 27-year-old, from whom he was found to have received an object resembling a paper cup.

“During the subsequent search, a defensive-type grenade enclosed with cable ties was found in the 30-year-old’s possession and seized. He was then taken to the headquarters of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime and arrested.

“The investigation showed that the 31-year-old had an organisational role in planning the attack. He allegedly instructed the 30-year-old to meet the 27-year-old, collect the grenade and then plant or throw it at a location in Attica.

“In a subsequent search carried out by officers from the Sub-Directorate for Combating Organised Crime of Northern Greece in the cell where the 31-year-old is being held, a mobile phone was found and seized.

“The device is being examined as a possible means of communication used to provide instructions concerning preparations for the attack.

“In addition, a search was carried out at a residence in Attica which the 27-year-old had entered earlier. With the assistance of officers from the Special Counter-Terrorist Unit, a revolver loaded with five cartridges was found and seized.

“In total, the searches resulted in the seizure of a defensive-type grenade, a revolver and six cartridges, €4,410, two mobile phones, numerous mobile phone SIM packages from various providers, a baseball-style cap and a backpack containing a sheet of paper with sports team stickers and a paper drinks cup.

“The arrested 30-year-old was brought before the competent prosecutorial authority and referred to an investigating magistrate, while the imprisoned 31-year-old will be brought before the competent prosecutorial authority once the relevant order has been issued.”