ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A self-described Satanist has been arrested in Greece on suspicion of ritually killing a homeless woman in an Athens public square and planning a second murder for this weekend’s summer solstice, police said Tuesday.
A police statement said the 22-year-old Greek suspect confessed to killing the woman with a heavy stone during a pre-dawn “ritual Satanist ceremony” in the seaside Glyfada suburb.
Police said the suspect had been working alone, and did not appear to be linked with any organized group.
The 41-year-old woman was found dead on April 20, Orthodox Easter Sunday, with severe head injuries. A nearby bench had been daubed in blood with Satanist insignia.
The statement said the suspect was arrested Monday, also in Glyfada. It said police identified him by references to the killing on social media, DNA analysis and a fingerprint on a plastic bag containing the murder weapon, found in a nearby bin.
The suspect allegedly told police that he had intended to carry out another ritual killing on Saturday, the day of the summer solstice, but it was unclear whether or not he had selected a prospective victim.
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