Athens suitcase death: man held over UK woman's murder

A 36-year-old man has been remanded in custody in Greece on suspicion of murdering British woman Elisabeth-Jane Ross, whose body was found in a suitcase in Athens.

The ANA news agency reported that the man was placed in custody on Thursday. Greek media identified him as an Afghan national.

The 38-year-old victim's body was found in an abandoned building near the Athens city centre on July 18. She had arrived in Greece on June 26 and stayed with a friend in the Piraeus region until July 10 before travelling to an unknown destination on the outskirts of Athens, police said.

Public television channel ERT reported that the suspect has been charged with intentional homicide, theft and illegal possession of a weapon, and said he has made no response to the accusations.

Police said Sunday that the suspect had confessed. ANA reported that the man claimed he found Ross dead in the bathroom of a house where she was staying.

ANA and other Greek media reported that he made cash withdrawals using the victim's bank cards. He is also alleged to have sent messages to her family to mislead them and delay the reporting of her disappearance.

A video widely circulated on social media shows a young man pushing a large black suitcase in the street. Greek media also reported that the suspect's British wife gave authorities information that helped lead to his arrest.