Frenchman rams police car in Greece after security check

THESSALONIKI, Greece – A 49-year-old Frenchman is to be deported from Greece after ramming a police car following a security check for suspected Islamic militants returning from Iraq and Syria.

A court in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki issued a 15-month suspended sentence and ordered his summary deportation Monday, records seen by The Associated Press showed.

Police testified the man had been held for questioning for two days after crossing the border from Turkey. He was released without charge but later attacked an unmarked police car. He rammed the vehicle with his car, jumped on the hood, and pushed a nearby female police officer, the court documents said.

Greek authorities frequently question travellers believed to be returning to Europe from Syria, often acting on information from police in other European Union countries.