The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-02-13

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Fire Continues in Windsor Skyscraper Hell Tower in Madrid

By Annita Paschalinou

Heavy smoke is covering the sky of Madrid, where the Windsor skyscraper is burning since last night. The Fire Brigade has still not managed to set the fire under control and now everyone fears that the 110m-tall building will collapse. Parts of the building wrapped up in flames fall on the ground, while the cause of the fire remains unknown. The Minister of Internal Affairs clarified that it is not a terrorist attack and police consider the fire was caused by a short-circuit.

No Victims

The fire broke out at 23.20 local time on the 21st floor of the 32floor skyscraper, which houses business offices. Because of the time and day there are no victims and the cleaning ladies working at the time were successfully freed by the Fire Brigade.

Throughout the night, flammable materials in the building, plastics, papers and crystals "helped" the fire reach down to the fourth floor. In an effort to limit the fire, the Fire Brigade was throwing water in the surrounding buildings.

Authorities have also expressed fears that the thick smoke covering the Madrid sky will cause respiratory problems to the inhabitants of the Spanish capital.

The Emergencies agency has asked all people living in the area to remain in their houses and keep the doors and windows closed. For precautionary reasons metro routes 6,8 and 10 are not performed.

Terrorist Attack Out of the Question

The cause of the fire remains unknown so far. Police sources say it is most probably due to a short-circuit and the Spanish minister of Internal Affairs Jose Antonio Alonso rejected the scenario of a terrorist attack. "There are no indications so far to back this allegation," he stressed.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] Two Slightly Injured Explosion in Paris

By Annita Paschalinou

A powerful explosion was reported at seven in the morning at the imperial theatre of Paris, on Wagram street. According to the police, two passers-by were injured by the explosion and the theatre suffered extensive damage. The reasons for the explosion remain unknown for the time being.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] Hard to Track Him Vavilis: Hellenic Police Informer

By Annita Paschalinou

Shower of revelations regarding Apostolos Vavilis are coming to light. He used to live in Cholargos, he went by the name of his Israeli wife, that is Koen, he seemed to have financial ease and he was often visited by clergymen. In fact, he had drawn the attention of his neighbors because of his disguises, as he was often seen with a police uniform or cassocks. His web has also stretched to Albania, where he run illegal activities, according to the Apogevmatini tis Kiriakis newspaper.

Usual Disguises

He has a motorbike, he uses closed circuit cameras to monitor who is coming in an out of his apartment block, it seems he has financial ease, he was often visited by clergymen, while he has left his house dressed as a priest at least once.

Apostolos Vavilis had drawn the attention of his neighbors on 15 Miltiadou Street in Cholargos, where he resided with his Israeli wife, both because of his unusual disguises from priest to policeman and his suspicious associations.

In his public life he went by the name of his wife, he always paid his bills and avoided chitchatting. He had installed a closed circuit surveillance system in the parking and entrance of the apartment block and he traveled very often.

The Hellenic Police spokesperson Lefteris Oikonomou confirmed today in an interview on SKY radio that Apostolos Vavilis was indeed a police informer. At the same time, according to an article of Apogevmatini tis Kiriakis, Vavilis had acted in 1995 in Albania as well, with a passport in the name of Apostolos Kavelaras and was involved in the banking scandals of the neighboring country which paid off more than 800,000 dollars.

Discreet Operations for his Arrest

There are many scenarios regarding Apostolos Vavilis' whereabouts these days. The most probable of all is that he is in Greece disguised under a new identity, but it is likely he has fled the country. The police believe it is very difficult to track him considering that he is more than familiar with Hellenic Police methods. Apostolos Vavilis supports he is very sick specifically, he is at the final stage of cancer- but these allegations have not been proved, apart from the sayings of himself and his relatives. The police are making discreet and at the same time surprise investigations in certain monasteries for his arrest.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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