“Rapist with tattoo” arrested in Albania, extradited to Greece; more victims come out

The “rapist with tattoo” of Palaio Faliro, a 45-year old Albanian national who fled to his home-country to escape arrest, was arrested by Albanian authorities and extradited to Greece in the early morning hours of Tuesday.

After Greece issued an international arrest warrant, Albanian police located the man in his mother’s home in Avlona.

Officers arrested him, informed their Greek colleagues and handed him over to them at the borders.

He was taken to Police Headquarters on Tuesday morning, where he is to testify before an investigative magistrate on Thursday.

He has claimed to police that he was under the influence of cocaine, media reported.

The man is facing charges of rape, attempted rape and kidnapping.

The international arrest warrant was issued over the weekend after a 34-year-old woman reported her rape at a tram stop in Palaio Faliro, suburb of south Athens, and a 23-year-old woman reported her attempted rape three hours earlier in the same area on October 23. (<strong>full story KTG here)

The women gave investigators detailed description of the man, including a distinctive tattoo in particular, which helped police identify the suspect.

Investigators are also examining video footage that may confirm the claims of another woman who reported being assaulted at the same bus stop under similar circumstances.

Several media websites posted pictures of he man (many without alternation!) from his social media account and published also his name.

Two more women have reportedly told police they recognized him as the man who attempted to assault them. The one incident took place in summer in the seaside resort of Loutraki, in western Attica, some 80 km away from Athens.

As Greek authorities are looking for more possible victims of the man, the head of Policemen union in Attica told Skai TV.

The prosecutor in Athens is expected to order the publication of his picture, name and other data.

Citizen Protection Minister Takis Theodorikakos tweeted on Tuesday:

Θα οδηγηθεί στην ελληνική δικαιοσύνη για την άνανδρη, απάνθρωπη και εγκληματική συμπεριφορά του.

— Τάκης Θεοδωρικάκος (@theodorikakosp) November 1, 2022

“He will be brought to Greek justice for his coward, inhumane and criminal behavior,” the Ministed noted.