Man arrested after body of British woman found inside suitcase in Athens

Police in Athens have revealed that a 26-year-old man has confessed to the killing of a Scottish woman found in a suitcase in an abandoned building. Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, was discovered in the Kypseli district of Athens on July 18, following her reported disappearance. Authorities from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Scotland joined forces with local Greek police to investigate the case.

The suspect, believed to be from Afghanistan, was apprehended on Thursday at the police headquarters and confessed to the charges of manslaughter, robbery, and weapons offenses. However, the specific charges have not been finalized according to the Greek legal system. The victim, known as Lisa, arrived in Greece on June 26 and resided in the Piraeus area until July 10 before heading to Attica.

After conducting investigations and reviewing video footage, police identified the 26-year-old man as the individual connected to the case. They claim that the suspect transported Lisa's body to the abandoned site in a suitcase and later used her bank cards to withdraw money. At the suspect's residence, police discovered a replica pistol and a knife.

Lisa had initially stayed with Greek friends in Keratsini, 5.9 miles (9.5km) west of central Athens, informing them that she would visit Kypseli on July 15, where her American friends or acquaintances were. Police are currently prioritizing toxicology reports to determine the exact cause of Lisa's death, which may take several weeks to a few months, depending on the case's complexity and the forensic laboratory's workload.

They are also attempting to locate Lisa's American friends, who were staying in Kypseli at the time of her disappearance. First Minister John Swinney condemned the case as "absolutely appalling."