Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-02-16

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Finance ministry employees begin strike

[02] Bank robbers make off with 110,000 euros in Lamia

[03] Two elderly nuns die in monastery fire in Gerakas

[04] Heroin arrest

[01] Finance ministry employees begin strike

The strike action was called in protest to the government decision to freeze salaries, adopt new tax measures and impose a 10 pct cut on benefits, which the protestors say correspond to monthly salary reductions of between 350 and 750 euros.

[02] Bank robbers make off with 110,000 euros in Lamia

The four robbers approached the bank on two motorcycles in downtown Lamia, wearing hoods underneath crash helmets, and swarmed into the bank shouting "hold-up", with guns in hand.

One of the robbers headed for the branch director while two others went straight to the tellers and grabbed all money in sight.

According to eyewitnesses, the robbers spoke in Greek and appeared determined.

While the robbery was in progress, a customer outside the bank realised what was happening and alerted police with his cell phone.

They said one of the four tellers calmly threw a packet containing 200,000 euros in the trash bin without being seen by the robbers.

The robbers fled the scene on their motorcycles and disappeared in the side streets.

Lamia police launched a manhunt, closing off the vicinity and conducting car searches. Shortly afterwards they found the two motorcycles abandoned in the outskirts of the city.

More than 40 employees and customers were in the bank at the time of the hold-up.

[03] Two elderly nuns die in monastery fire in Gerakas

The bodies of the two nuns, who were sisters, were discovered at 5:45 a.m. at the Aghios Timotheos monastery after a fire that is believed to have been caused by candles during a power blackout in the area.

According to the Fire Department the two nuns, one of which had mobility problems, were trapped in their bedroom by the flames, and apparently died of smoke inhalation.

A strong team of 15 firefighters with three fire engines and volunteers rushed to the monastery and quickly put out the blaze before it spread, but the two nuns had already succumbed.

[04] Heroin arrest

Acting on a tip-off that the foreign national was selling narcotics in Athens and Corinth, police discovered the suspect's residence and launched a discrete surveillance.

In a coordinated operation on Friday in the Athens suburb of Nea Philadelfia, police found and seized 700 grams of heroin, a small quantity of cocaine, a pistol and ammunition, 650 euros in cash and two cell phones used for closing drug sales.

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