Greek authorities on Saturday confirmed that they have arrested a 65-year-old man in connection with the hijacking of a TWA airline flight more than 30 years ago.
The man faced two separate European extradition orders filed by Germany, according to Greek authorities. His arrest took place on Thursday on the Greek island of Mykonos.
Local media reported that he has already been relocated to a central prison near Athens. German prosecutors would not comment on the reports. TWA Flight 847 was hijacked in June 1985 with 153 passengers and eight crew members on board on the way from Athens to Rome by two hijackers who were members of Hezbollah.
The plane was used for days to make trips between Beirut and Algiers and one of the passengers, a US Marine diver, was killed during a stop in Beirut. The passengers and crew were slowly freed during weeks of intense negotiations.
Authorities in Greece faced questions over whether the arrest truly involves the implicated men. He reportedly travelled by cruise ship to Mykonos and was about to return to Turkey when his name was discovered by authorities. There are questions about whether an internationally-wanted terrorist would travel under his own name.
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