Turkish nationals appear in Greek court after shooting incident with police in Thessaloniki

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Five Turkish nationals appeared in court in northern Greece on Thursday following a wave of police raids and arrests triggered by a shooting incident reportedly targeting Greek intelligence officers.

Three of those arrested were charged and later sentenced to five months in prison for unrelated drugs offences while two others were cleared but remain in police detention for questioning, authorities said.

The incident occurred outside in the northern city of Thessaloniki on Wednesday when a group of unidentified suspects at a gas station opened fire at officers who were keeping them under surveillance. No one was injured.

State-run television reported that the officers were from Greece’s National Intelligence Service, but authorities have not publicly commented on their identity.

Greece is combatting a surge in violence involving Turkish organized crime groups over the past two years, including several gang-linked assassinations and other shooting incidents.