Greek police arrest 89-year-old pensioner following double shooting spree in Athens
Authorities have yet to establish a motive for the attacks, though the gunman reportedly threw documents claiming to explain his actions before fleeing to a hotel where he was found with two weapons.
Greek police have arrested an 89-year-old pensioner in connection with a double shooting rampage across Athens that left five people injured. The suspect, identified by media as a rubbish collector from the Athens area, was detained in the city of Patra, located more than 200 kilometres west of the capital, following an extensive manhunt.
The incident began when the attacker opened fire inside a social security agency in the Kerameikos district. According to the head of the National Social Security Fund, Alexandros Varveris, the gunman concealed a shotgun under a trench coat and reportedly told an employee to duck before firing the shot that injured a staff member of the state pension organisation EFKA.
Following the initial attack, the suspect travelled by taxi to a court building in the Ambelokipi district, where he injured four additional people. The head of the Athens Judicial Employees Union, Stratis Dounias, stated that initial information indicated the man fired at the floor inside one of the offices. Court staff subsequently announced a 24-hour strike, blaming the incident on perceived poor security at court buildings.
The motive for the shootings remains unclear to authorities. However, the attacker reportedly threw envelopes containing documents onto the floor of the court after opening fire, claiming they explained the reasons for his actions. While the specific contents of these documents remain unverified, the suspect fled the scene leaving behind a shotgun before being located in a hotel in Patra, where a second weapon was discovered during his arrest.
Background checks indicate the suspect has a history of psychological issues, having received treatment at a mental hospital in 2018. Gun violence is considered rare in Greece, although firearm ownership is permitted under tightly regulated laws. The Athens Judicial Employees Union has previously raised concerns regarding security protocols at court buildings, a sentiment echoed by the current industrial action following this event.
