Greek police rescues 74 migrants held as hostages in Thessaloniki

Greece’s police has rescued 74 migrants who were held hostages in a warehouse in the outskirts of Thessaloniki, northern Greece. They were in the hands of four foreign men who were demanding ransom from the victims’ families.

According to a police press release, police teams raided the abandoned warehouse located on the old national road Thessaloniki-Kavala.

The migrants had illegally entered Greece from Turkey some time earlier and they were taken to the warehouse until their families or themselves paid money.

They were living as hostages in appalling conditions.

A file against the four smugglers and hostage takers as well as against three accomplices was filed, charges were pressed for establishing a criminal gang, abduction and the illegal transfer of people.