Four Chinese nationals, including a teenager, were arrested on suspicion of espionage after they were caught photographing a major Hellenic Air Force base north of Athens, Greek authorities have said.
The group—a 47-year-old couple, their 15-year-old son, and a 53-year-old family friend—is scheduled to be brought before a prosecutor on Thursday.
According to police, security personnel at the Tanagra Air Force Base spotted the four individuals taking pictures of the base’s facilities and aircraft around 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
They were immediately detained.
Police who were called to the scene confirmed that images of military aircraft were found on the individuals' mobile phones, at which point they were formally arrested.
The suspects told authorities they were in Greece as tourists.
Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP) has been briefed on the incident, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities are treating the case.
The Tanagra base is one of Greece’s most important military installations, housing advanced fighter jets. The arrests come amid heightened vigilance across Europe over suspected foreign intelligence activities near sensitive military sites.