The woman arrested this morning in Patissia is the mother of the dead girl found in Palaio Faliro. She told police that the child was injured in the bathroom, but she was afraid to go to the hospital because she didn’t have legal residency papers.

More specifically, according to exclusive information from protothema.gr, the woman told police at the Athens Police Headquarters (GADA) that the child had an accident in the bathroom at home. Later, when they went to the beach, she thought the child was sleeping.

When she realized the child was injured, she was afraid to take her to the hospital. So, she left the child — still alive — in the sea and fled with her other two children.

It’s worth noting that, according to the coroner’s report, the little girl died by drowning and had multiple injuries to her face — forehead, eyes, lips, and nose — along with visible bruises on various parts of her body.

How the coast guard tracked down the woman with the stroller

Investigators from the coast guard and Hellenic Police closely examined footage from local security cameras. These showed a woman with two children and a baby in a stroller wearing clothes matching those found on the deceased girl.

A crucial role in identifying the woman was played by a tourist from Israel, who had been the previous passenger in the taxi the Algerian woman later took. Police located the Israeli tourist, who helped them track down the taxi driver.

The driver remembered the ride and informed authorities that the woman had ended up in Patissia. The coast guard notified the police, who discreetly monitored the area starting yesterday (July 31).

This morning (August 1), at 6:45 a.m., when the woman called for a taxi to leave with her children, authorities identified her and proceeded with the arrest.

The woman is currently at GADA along with her other two children. Initial information indicates the children’s father is in Syria. The children are expected to appear before the juvenile prosecutor.

Video footage of the woman in Palaio Faliro

The woman was recorded on video with two children and a baby in a stroller dressed similarly to the deceased girl.

In one video released to the public, the woman is seen stopping at a kiosk near Edem Beach to buy some items before walking away. She is accompanied by the two young children and the stroller.

From the gathered evidence, it appears that early the next morning — after the kiosk stop — she got into a taxi with the other two children and left the area.

One detail experts noticed was that in the second video, the woman is wearing her dress inside out — possibly indicating a rushed departure from the beach, dressing in haste.

At the same time, a photo revealed by protothema.gr — believed to show the little girl who was later found dead — raises questions about the child’s condition. In the image, the girl is wearing a hat, even though it’s 9:30 p.m., her face is covered, and her posture in the stroller suggests that she is, at best, asleep.

Authorities are also considering the fact that the child reportedly suffered from a metabolic disorder — as determined by the coroner — and that the prolonged heatwave may have affected her condition.

This could explain why a mother would take her children to the beach at night. However, only the girl in the stroller was wearing a swimsuit.