A large, illegal arsenal of weapons, ammunition, and police-style equipment has been discovered in the home of a Greek military staff sergeant who is now facing firearms charges after he survived a suicide attempt earlier this month, authorities said.
The investigation began after the 46-year-old sergeant, who serves at the Artillery School, was hospitalized on Aug. 4 for a self-inflicted injury.
Suspicion was raised when he expressed reluctance to allow a police search of his home in the Athens suburb of Gerakas while arranging to surrender his legally owned firearms, as required after the incident.
A subsequent court-authorized search of the residence uncovered multiple firearms, over 500 assorted bullets, magazines for G3 military rifles, knives, handcuffs, and a baton.
The sergeant was charged with violations of Greece’s firearms laws.
He was transferred to a military psychiatric hospital for evaluation and has since been ordered released by a military prosecutor pending further legal proceedings.
By Katia Nakiari