A 56-year-old German tourist has been charged with espionage after allegedly photographing restricted military facilities and fighter jets at a dual-use airport in Crete, according to Greek authorities.
The man was arrested Saturday at Chania’s Ioannis Daskalogiannis International Airport in Akrotiri, which serves both civilian flights and a strategic airbase used by the Hellenic Air Force and NATO forces.
Police said he was detained by plainclothes officers while using professional camera equipment to capture images of sensitive installations, aircraft and personnel movements.
The suspect appeared before the Chania Court of First Instance under police escort. A magistrate granted him until Tuesday to prepare his defense and formally respond to the charges.
Authorities have not released his identity under EU privacy laws.
According to his lawyers, Mr. German suspect denies any wrongdoing, saying he was an aviation enthusiast visiting Crete with his family and was unaware of restrictions on photography in the area, despite posted warning signs.
Police have seized his camera and digital storage devices for forensic analysis as part of the ongoing investigation.
Greek law treats the unauthorized recording of military sites as a serious offense, and security around dual-use facilities remains heightened amid broader regional tensions.