Police in Athens have arrested 10 alleged members of a hardcore soccer hooligan gang in an operation by the force’s sports violence unit, authorities said Thursday.
The suspects, all identified as supporters of Athens-based club Panathinaikos, were due to appear before a prosecutor later Thursday. They face multiple charges, including participation in a criminal organization, attempted homicide, arson, causing explosions, manufacturing and possessing explosive materials, robbery, extortion, assault, criminal damage, weapons and flare-related offenses, and drug possession and trafficking.
Police identified one suspect as the alleged leader of the group. He had previously been charged in connection with a violent clash between supporters of AEK Athens, Panathinaikos and Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb in August 2023, which resulted in the stabbing death of 29-year-old AEK fan Michalis Katsouris.
The 10 suspects arrested on Thursday are among a group of 39 individuals being investigated for a string of sports-related crimes.
Authorities say the group is believed to have been active since at least August 2025, carrying out attacks on supporters of rival clubs, including Olympiacos, Larissa and Atromitos, mainly in the western suburbs of the Athens metropolitan area.
