Both men, a former police special forces officer and an Albanian national, were inmates at Athens’ central Korydallos prison — where Xiros was sentenced to serve multiple felony convictions related to many of N17’s attacks up until 2002.

The two suspects maintained that their cohabitation with Xiros in the prison does not necessarily mean they are members of any terror group.

The suspects have been identified by police as 53-year-old Christos Patouheas and 36-year-old Hari Koka. The former was convicted of antiquities smuggling in 2002, expelled from the police force and sentenced to jail time. The latter served time for armed robbery and drug offenses. Both men were granted a continuance to provide a statement to an investigating magistrate on Saturday.

According to reports, Koka claimed he only visited a residence used by Xiros on one or two occasions, while also maintaining that he never witnessed any firearms in the home or was aware of any terror-linked plan.

“I only saw Christodoulos outside the residence, when he would give me the rent money; I don’t know and never saw any woman,” Koka told authorities.

The two men face charges of participation in a terrorist organisation, harboring a criminal felony weapons possession.
Xiros vanished after a scheduled prison furlough in January 2014 only to appear in a video aired on a site frequented by self-styled anarchist cells days later, where he threatened and mocked authorities and promised to stage future attacks.

Authorities are still searching for a 22-year-old woman they claim aided Xiros during his year-long disappearance.

N17, known as the “Revolutionary Organization 17 November” was the most lethal and notorious home-ground urban terrorist group to plague Greece, claiming 23 victims and 103 attacks since it first appeared in 1975. The group’s members were arrested in the wake of a botched bombing attempt in June 2002.