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Four Chinese Nationals Arrested in Greece for Photographing Rafale Jets at Military Base
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Four Chinese nationals were arrested in Greece after being caught taking photographs of the Tanagra Airbase, located north of Athens, as was reported on July 9.
The base houses twenty-four Rafale jets belonging to the 114th Squadron, as well as the headquarters of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force. Nearby, there is a facility operated by Hellenic Aerospace Industries.
The incident unfolded when security personnel from Hellenic Aerospace Industries became suspicious of the group’s behavior, says the French outlet Opex360.
Despite being asked to leave the area, the four individuals—comprising a 47-year-old couple, a 15-year-old teenager, and a 53-year-old man—continued to take pictures of the airbase, even as they moved towards a nearby bridge.
When the air force police, known as Aeronomia, were alerted, they intervened and arrested the group. Taken to a local police station, the four individuals claimed to be “simple tourists.”
However, their possession of numerous photographs of Rafale jets and base installations and infrastructure raised suspicions. These actions prompted an investigation by the National Intelligence Service of Greece (EYP).
“The four arrested individuals claim they came for tourism and didn’t realize they were in a military zone. However, the authorities are not convinced," reported Greek Pentapostagma outlet.
“Their insistence on photographing sensitive areas, even after being asked to leave, raises serious questions about whether this ‘innocent stroll’ hides something else,” summarized Pentapostagma news outlet.
An investigation into espionage has been launched, and the four Chinese nationals were expected to appear before a prosecutor on July 10, 2025, potentially facing charges. Greek authorities are working to determine whether this incident was isolated or part of a more systematic intelligence-gathering operation.
This incident has also caught the attention of India, which maintains strong diplomatic and military ties with Greece. The timing of the event is notable, as China has recently been accused of launching a smear campaign against the Rafale jets, reports news outlet France24.
This follows Pakistan’s claim that one of its J-10 fighters, designed by China, downed a Rafale aircraft during an operation in May 2025.
Earlier, it was reported that Kyiv had arrested Chinese spy duo in espionage case involving Ukraine’s missile secrets.
