The two Turkish nationals wanted in connection with the shooting incident involving Greek National Intelligence Service (EYP) agents last week in Thermi, Thessaloniki, have been located and are being held in Bulgaria.

The two were arrested early Tuesday morning under a European arrest warrant. Three days earlier, a 49-year-old compatriot of theirs had been arrested, alleged to be the one who pulled the trigger and fired at the EYP agents. The two Turks who managed to flee to Bulgaria were in the same vehicle as the 49-year-old during the incident and are being prosecuted for simple complicity in attempted murder, in co-perpetration.

The suspects are a 23-year-old and a 43-year-old. According to protothema.gr, the younger man was living in Greece under asylum seeker status and had previously been arrested by Greek authorities in connection with a drug-related case. He is believed to be the second individual who exited the 4×4 vehicle last Tuesday afternoon and approached the EYP agents. It remains unclear whether he also fired shots along with the 49-year-old toward the car that was hit by bullets.

The second suspect, aged 43, was reportedly residing illegally in Greece, although he had no prior issues with the Greek authorities.

Both men are known to the Turkish authorities. The 23-year-old was allegedly a wanted individual in Turkey, while the 43-year-old has a criminal record there.

According to the same sources, the two men were arrested around 3:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Bulgaria–Turkey border. It is not yet clear whether their final destination was Turkey.

Their arrest, based on European arrest warrants executed today, was made possible through information provided by Greek authorities to their Bulgarian counterparts. The men were handcuffed in the area of Svilengrad, near the border.

Following their arrest, it is only a matter of time before the procedures for their extradition to Greece are set in motion so they can appear before judicial authorities in Thessaloniki.

The 49-Year-Old Turk Testifies

Meanwhile, on Wednesday afternoon, the 49-year-old Turkish man appeared before the 5th Examining Magistrate in Thessaloniki to testify.

The driver of the SUV who opened fire is being prosecuted for attempted murder in co-perpetration, as well as for illegal possession and use of a firearm. In his preliminary statement, he allegedly claimed he did not realize the individuals were EYP agents, asserting that he acted out of fear, believing he was threatened by persons associated with the Turkish regime.

He was arrested early last Saturday in the village of Kato Vyrsini, in the mountainous region of Rhodope, and was reportedly planning to escape to Bulgaria.