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Turkish inmates set fire to mattresses and other objects at Korydallos Prison in western Athens on Friday while authorities attempted to transfer a Turkish prisoner to the airport for extradition to Türkiye, according to Greek media outlets.
The unrest began in the early hours of the morning in Wing 5 after officers from the police transfer unit arrived to collect the inmate.
The prisoner allegedly resisted the transfer, while fellow inmates reportedly started fires inside cells and the prison wing in an attempt to prevent his removal and show support.
Large numbers of police officers, prison staff and firefighters were sent to the maximum-security facility after smoke was seen rising from the building.
Riot police, motorcycle patrol teams and other special units were deployed, while police vehicles were stationed around the prison perimeter to prevent further unrest.
The fire was brought under control, and reports said order had been restored by early afternoon. Some Greek reports said the situation had stabilized shortly before noon, while others placed the end of the alert shortly before 2:00 p.m (11:00 a.m. GMT).
Police sources said the prisoner’s transfer to the airport continued as planned.
Authorities began searching the cells of inmates believed to have been involved in the incident.
An internal administrative investigation was also ordered to determine the circumstances surrounding the unrest.
Strong police forces remained around the prison after the situation was brought under control.
Greek media outlets, citing police sources, said no injuries had been reported.
A separate Ihlas News Agency (IHA) report alleged that three people were killed and 20 others injured, but said Greek authorities had not issued an official statement confirming those claims.
The inmates involved were reportedly among suspects arrested in Greece in 2024 during the “Kafes 39” operation over alleged links to shootings targeting several businesses in Istanbul’s Maltepe district.
Some suspects allegedly fled from Türkiye to Greece during legal proceedings before being arrested over incidents there and sent to Greek prisons.
They were reportedly expected to be extradited because they were wanted internationally.
The IHA report said the inmates may have started the unrest in an effort to support political asylum applications, although no official explanation for the incident had been announced.
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