Political Bombing Arrests
Greek Police Arrest Three Suspects Linked to Deadly Bomb Attacks on Ruling New Democracy Politicians
Key Points
The three suspects include a 26-year-old woman from Thessaloniki who lives in Athens and is linked to the anarchist movement, plus a 29-year-old man and a 24-year-old man who owns a house near Nestora's building; authorities reportedly suspect the group went to the 24-year-old's apartment to assemble the device before returning to his flat.
In addition to Afroditi Nestora, police identified two other New Democracy targets as Zisis Ioakimovits (president of the Thessaloniki Steering Committee) and former MP Savvas Anastasiades.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis condemned the attack as 'cowardly, terrorist and murderous,' and government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said the assaults occurred within about 15 minutes.
Two people were detained in Athens over the 2010 Marfin Bank firebomb attack that left three dead, linking this episode to a broader pattern of politically motivated violence.
Some reports described the suspects as young anti-establishment figures known to police, underscoring the ongoing pattern of anti-government violence perceived by Greek authorities.
Greek anti-terror police arrested three people in connection with coordinated bomb attacks that targeted ruling New Democracy politicians on July 1, including an explosion that killed a 72-year-old woman outside her daughter's home in Thessaloniki, according to CP24. The victim's daughter, Afroditi Nestora, was a parliamentary candidate for the governing New Democracy party. Several others were injured in the blasts.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis condemned the attacks as 'cowardly, terrorist and murderous.' Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said all three strikes on New Democracy figures happened within about 15 minutes of each other.
Three Suspects Tied to Anarchist Movement Arrested
Police arrested two suspects in Thessaloniki and one in Crete. The three include a 26-year-old woman from Thessaloniki who lives in Athens and is linked to the anarchist movement, a 29-year-old man, and a 24-year-old man who owns a residence near Nestora's building. Authorities believe the group assembled the improvised devices at the 24-year-old's apartment before carrying out the attacks.
The bombs were crude devices made from camping gas canisters. Police believe the same group carried out two other attacks that night, targeting the homes of Zisis Ioakimovits, president of the Thessaloniki Steering Committee, and former MP Savvas Anastasiades. All three strikes are linked to a single coordinated operation, according to investigators.
A Pattern of Anti-Government Violence in Greece
Greek authorities said the suspects are young anti-establishment figures already known to police. Officials stressed the attacks fit a broader pattern of politically motivated violence by anti-government groups in Greece. The use of homemade gas-canister bombs echoes tactics used by anarchist cells in previous years.
On the same day as the New Democracy arrests, police also detained two people in Athens over a separate, older case, according to CTV News. That case involves the 2010 firebomb attack on the Marfin Bank in Athens. Three employees — one man and two women — died after being trapped inside the burning building during an austerity protest.
The 2010 Marfin Bank Attack: A Long-Awaited Reckoning
The 2010 Marfin Bank firebomb attack is one of Greece's most notorious acts of political violence. Protesters threw incendiary devices into the bank during a demonstration against new austerity measures, according to Seattle PI. The three employees who died had no way to escape the fire. The case went unsolved for over a decade.
The arrests in both cases signal a push by Greek authorities to hold perpetrators of politically motivated attacks accountable, even years after the fact. Both the government and opposition leaders condemned all of the attacks. Officials said investigations are ongoing and more arrests could follow.
Government Vows Full Investigation Into All Attacks
Greek authorities emphasized they are working to identify every person involved in the July 1 coordinated bombings. Anti-terror police are leading the investigation. Officials have not said whether more suspects are at large, but described the probe as active and continuing.
The July 1 attacks and the renewed focus on the 2010 Marfin Bank case together highlight Greece's long struggle with domestic political violence, according to Michigan's Thumb. Anarchist and anti-establishment groups have carried out recurring attacks on government and financial targets for decades. Greek leaders say they will not tolerate such violence.
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