Afghan suspect confesses to killing Scottish tourist found in Athens suitcase

The body of 38-year-old Scottish national Elisabeth-Jane Ross was recovered from a suitcase in an abandoned building in Athens’s Kypseli area on 18 July, days after she was reported missing. Authorities traced the case to a 26-year-old Afghan man, who was brought to police headquarters, where he admitted to the homicide. He is being held on suspicion of manslaughter, robbery and weapons offences, though Greek prosecutors have not yet finalized the indictment.

Searches of his residence uncovered a replica firearm and a knife, and investigators say he used Ross’s debit cards to withdraw cash. Ross had arrived in Greece on 26 June, stayed in Piraeus, and was last seen heading toward Kypseli to meet acquaintances she described as “American friends.” Police are fast-tracking toxicology analysis to establish how she died and are also seeking those American contacts. First Minister John Swinney described the case as “absolutely appalling.”