Afghan man arrested after body of British woman found stuffed in suitcase in Athens

A 26-year-old Afghan man has been taken into custody and charged in connection with the killing of British woman Elisabeth Jane Ross, whose remains were discovered stuffed inside a suitcase in Athens.

Ms Ross, 38, who was also known as Lisa, was found on July 18 by a homeless man who came across the suitcase in an abandoned property in the area of Kypseli.

Greek authorities confirmed that the suspect confessed to his involvement after detectives identified him through analysis of video surveillance footage.

He faces charges of manslaughter, robbery and breaches of weapons legislation.

Greek police said no fingerprints or DNA traces were recovered from the suitcase, suggesting the individual who placed Ms Ross's body inside had acted with deliberation.

Her precise cause of death has yet to be officially confirmed.

Ms Ross, from Edinburgh, had arrived in Greece on a flight from the Scottish capital on June 26.

Initial reports had suggested she had travelled from the US, though Greek police subsequently confirmed her departure point was the UK.

Upon arriving in Athens, she stayed with a Greek couple in Keratsini, a suburban town in the Piraeus region situated roughly 40 minutes by car from where her body was ultimately found.

From there, she reportedly intended to travel to Kypseli to stay with American acquaintances.

However, investigators have been unable to establish whether she ever reached her intended destination, as police have not managed to trace her supposed hosts.

A source told The Sun: "We see these Americans as key. We believe they have valuable information."

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There were also suggestions that these friends may not have existed and that Ms Ross simply wished to spend time on her own.

The suspect was identified after Greek police scrutinised CCTV footage showing him carrying a large travel bag to the abandoned site in Kypseli where Ms Ross was later discovered.

Officers said the man had placed her body into the suitcase before transporting it to the derelict building at 7 Evelpidon Street.

When officers subsequently raided his residence, they recovered a replica firearm and a knife, leading to the additional weapons charge.

Greek investigators believe Ms Ross was killed in close proximity to the location where her body was found, with suffocation reportedly being seriously considered as the potential cause of death.

In the days following Ms Ross's death, the suspect allegedly used her bank cards to make cash withdrawals in Athens.

Her mobile phone was also used to send messages to friends and family, purportedly from Ms Ross herself, until the discovery of her body became international news.

Her father, an Edinburgh-based lawyer, told Greek police he had received several such messages over a two-week period, including one stating that she "needed some time to herself" and "wanted to be alone for a while."

An officer told The Sun: "It is clear whoever sent them was trying to buy time."

The phone was switched off on the Wednesday morning after media coverage of the case spread globally.

Ms Ross was known as a regular visitor to Greece who volunteered with One Heart, a charity offering medical assistance to Afghan and Iranian refugees.

She had reportedly been seen befriending homeless people across the city.

The investigation into Ms Ross's death was a collaborative effort between Greek police, the National Crime Agency, Police Scotland and law enforcement authorities in the US.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "We are aware of the death of a Scottish woman in Athens and are liaising with authorities in Greece. Officers are providing support to her family in Scotland."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "Our thoughts are with Elisabeth's family during this difficult time. We are providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities."

Those who knew Ms Ross paid tribute to her warmth and generosity. Her aunt said: "Lisa was my beautiful loving niece we can't believe this has happened. We are absolutely devastated."

Another acquaintance remembered her for her "beautiful smile, warmth, care and kindness."

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