A gunman opened fire at a social security office and a courthouse in central Athens on Tuesday, injuring multiple individuals, according to Greek authorities. The suspect, reported to be an 89-year-old man, is currently being pursued by police.
The incident began when the assailant, armed with a shotgun, targeted a social security office, wounding an employee. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the man discharged his weapon after urging an employee to “duck,” subsequently hitting another staff member in the leg.
Following this, he allegedly moved to a nearby courthouse where he continued shooting, resulting in further injuries. Authorities have since recovered the shotgun used in the attacks. Footage from local broadcaster ERT showed ambulance services transporting several victims from the scene.
The motives behind this violent outburst remain unclear. However, reports suggest that after the courthouse shooting, the gunman scattered envelopes containing documents, which he purportedly claimed justified his actions.
According to Alexandros Varveris, the head of Greece’s National Social Security Fund, the shooter ascended to the fourth floor of the social security offices, suggesting a deliberate approach to the incident. Despite initial police attempts to provide medical assistance to the wounded while searching for the shooter, he managed to escape.
Medical personnel quickly attended to the injured employee at the social security office, applying a tourniquet before transporting him to a local hospital. In Greece, incidents of gun violence are uncommon due to stringent gun ownership regulations.
As the investigation continues, authorities are focussed on apprehending the suspect and determining the underlying cause of his actions.