A 26-year-old man from Azerbaijan has been arrested in Crete on suspicion of spying. This incident took place near a NATO military base, which is a significant location for military operations in the eastern Mediterranean.
Greek police detained the man on Sunday following information from the country’s intelligence service. He had been staying at a hotel close to the naval and air force base in western Crete since June 18. This base is crucial for Greece, the United States, and NATO forces.
Authorities discovered over 5,000 photographs and encryption software on a laptop taken from his hotel room, along with other digital devices. Investigators are looking into whether he was monitoring the military base in Souda. There is also a potential link to the recent arrest of a British man in Cyprus, who is suspected of espionage and terror offenses and was reportedly surveilling RAF Akrotiri, the UK’s key airbase in the region.
Local media reports suggest that the man arrested in Crete holds a Polish passport and may have connections to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He is expected to face a prosecutor this week as the investigation continues.
This situation highlights growing concerns about security and espionage in areas with significant military presence, especially in light of recent events in the region.