Greek national admits terror charge after leaving explosive device in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens
He's pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh
A Greek man who left an improvised explosive device in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens has pleaded guilty to a terrorism offence.
Police were called to the popular green space on the 11th of January 2018, following reports of a suspicious package.
It was later found to be viable and counter-terror officers as well as authorities in Europe were involved in the subsequent investigation.
Today, 35-year-old Nikolaos Karvounakis admitted being in possession of items for a terrorist purpose at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Houston said: “Karvounakis showed a blatant disregard for members of the public by placing the IED indiscriminately within Princes Street Gardens.
"Fortunately, it did not initiate, but his intention was clear and there was certainly the potential to cause significant, or even fatal, injury to innocent passers-by.
“I welcome his guilty plea and conviction which is testament to the perseverance of our diligent investigation team over the last four years.
“Since the discovery of the package, officers from Police Scotland’s Counter Terrorism Unit carried out extensive enquiries, including with European partners and law enforcement agencies. They were absolutely committed to the challenging inquiry to identify who was responsible.
"The successful conclusion of this investigation today has been founded on the strong co-operation and working closely with the Counter Terrorism Network across the UK and internationally."
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