One killed, several injured in attacks on ruling party members in Greece

Greek authorities reported that as a result of three attacks involving incendiary devices carried out at dawn at the homes of members of the ruling conservative party of Greece, New Democracy, one person was killed and several others were injured, ProtoThema reports.

The attacks took place early in the morning of July 1 near apartment buildings in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. The assailants used improvised explosive devices made from tear gas canisters. Cars and motorcycles were set on fire. The injured sustained burns.

According to available information, one of the vehicles belonged to parliamentary candidate from the New Democracy party, Afroditi Nestora. Nestora suffered burns, while her mother died from her injuries in the intensive care unit. Police also reported that two other residents of the apartment building were hospitalised.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who also leads the New Democracy party, travelled to Thessaloniki on Wednesday afternoon to visit the injured in hospital. Mitsotakis described the loss of life as evidence of “blind violence in public life.”

“The blood shed by extremists, and the division they sow, will no longer be tolerated. The legitimacy of the state and the unity of society must now send terrorism where it belongs: to the margins!” Mitsotakis said in a written statement.

Attacks by shadowy Greek militant groups on symbols of authority or the property of politicians, police officers, or other state representatives occur relatively frequently. In most cases, they cause material damage, but there have been no casualties.