Greek police arrest Afghan suspect in murder of British woman found in suitcase
Greek authorities arrested a 26-year-old Afghan man who confessed to killing a 38-year-old British woman whose body was discovered in a suitcase in Athens, and who allegedly used her bank cards after the crime.
Greek police said they arrested a 26-year-old Afghan man on suspicion of murdering a 38-year-old British woman whose body was found inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in Athens' Kypseli district on July 18. The Directorate for Combating Organized Crime opened a criminal file charging the suspect with intentional homicide, robbery and firearms violations.
The victim, identified as Elisabeth-Jane Ross, a Scottish national who had been staying with a friend in Piraeus, was last seen leaving for an unknown location in the Athens area on July 10. Police said video analysis linked the suspect to the crime, showing him placing the body in a suitcase and transporting it to the abandoned site, then using the victim's bank cards to withdraw cash. Searches of his residence uncovered a replica pistol and a knife.
Interpol assisted in confirming the victim's identity through fingerprint analysis, while the UK National Crime Agency and Scotland police provided liaison support.
"This is an extremely distressing time for the family of Elisabeth-Jane Ross and it is important that their privacy is respected while enquiries continue," a Scottish government spokesperson told BBC News.