Gun found, headache for Police

The case of the brutal beating and weapon theft involving a counter-terrorism police officer in Syntagma Square at noon on Tuesday is becoming a headache for the Hellenic Police.

The service pistol of the young policeman was found at midnight on Tuesday in an abandoned house in Exarchia, and he has escaped serious danger despite being brutally beaten by a group of unknown individuals. Three aspects of this story form the basic concerns of H.P.:

- How did the group of about 30 individuals wearing masks recognise the police officer? So far no answer has been found through the investigation, but Police officials believe the officer was either known from transfers of terrorist suspects or operations in Exarchia, or the way he sat and waited for his colleague gave him away
- Did they hide the gun after the attack or just leave it in the house at Exarchia? There is no answer to this so far, but all clues point on the assumption that they wanted to get rid of it, as it was likely to be found during a possible police raid
- Lately attacks on police have increased, especially in the centre and Exarchia, so the commands given to officers who take part in operations are to move discreetly and with a low profile so as not to reveal their identity

According to information, the young officer will need to remain hospitalised for several days, as the blows he received to the head and the shock he suffered render him unable to speak and give useful information that will shed light on the case.