Greek police arrest three over bomb attacks targeting politicians

Greek anti-terrorism police have arrested three people in connection with a series of bomb attacks earlier this month that targeted politicians from the ruling New Democracy party and left one woman dead.

Authorities said the suspects were detained in Thessaloniki and on the island of Crete, Caliber.Az reports, citing Euronews.

According to police, a 29-year-old man was arrested in Thessaloniki, while a 26-year-old woman was taken into custody in Crete on suspicion of involvement in the attacks. A third suspect was detained for allegedly sheltering the pair in his apartment.

The coordinated attacks took place in the early hours of July 1 in the northern city of Thessaloniki, where homemade explosive devices made from gas canisters were used to target the homes and vehicles of three New Democracy politicians.

The mother of former party candidate Afroditi Nestora died from injuries sustained in one of the explosions after apparently attempting to extinguish a fire caused by the blast. Nestora herself, her father and two other individuals were also injured.

Police reported that four vehicles parked in the garage of Nestora's residence were destroyed in the fire.

Greek media identified the other targets as Zisis Ioakimovic, chairman of the party's local executive committee, and former lawmaker Savvas Anastasiades.

“One day after the funeral of Vagia Nestora, the state honors her memory by leading, as we had pledged to do, the terrorists to justice,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament.

“It is democracy's answer to violence. Democracy's only answer to violence.”

Investigators said the improvised explosive devices were constructed using small butane canisters and believe the attacks were carried out by the same perpetrators.

Greek media described the detainees as young anti-establishment activists already known to law enforcement authorities.

Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis previously noted that all three attacks were carried out within a span of 15 minutes.

Greece has experienced politically motivated violence for decades, with domestic extremist groups carrying out bombings since the 1970s, often targeting politicians, police, public institutions and other symbols of authority.

Although many of the militant groups active during the 1980s and 1990s were dismantled, newer organizations have since emerged. Such attacks frequently involve crude explosive devices, including camping gas canisters, and typically result in property damage rather than casualties.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov