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Thessaloniki attacks: Manhunt for perpetrators after deadly gas canister explosions
🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

Thessaloniki attacks: Manhunt for perpetrators after deadly gas canister explosions

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Authorities are investigating perpetrators of gas canister attacks on the homes of three New Democracy party officials in Thessaloniki.
  • A second explosion, likely from a vehicle's fuel, intensified the fire in an apartment building, killing one woman and injuring others.
  • The Anti-Terrorism Service is handling the case, with investigators believing at least three individuals on motorcycles were involved.

Thessaloniki is under a manhunt for perpetrators who attacked the homes of three New Democracy party officials with gas canisters. Authorities are actively searching for the individuals responsible for the explosions, which have shaken the city.

the case in Thessaloniki highlighted in the most tragic way the danger posed by the use of improvised explosive devices.

— Konstantia DimoglidouPolice spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou on the danger of improvised explosive devices.

According to police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou, a second powerful explosion, heard by residents, was likely caused by the fuel of a vehicle targeted by the explosive device. This ignited a rapid fire in the apartment building, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. Dimoglidou highlighted the tragic danger posed by improvised explosive devices, emphasizing that even simple mechanisms can cause loss of life, severe injuries, and extensive property damage.

If the prosecution moves forward – beyond the explosion and possession of explosives, which are felonies with very severe penalties – and also for potential homicide, and they do not receive mitigating circumstances, we will ultimately have a sentence of life imprisonment plus. This practically means serving 25 years, in reality, under the current framework.

— Theodoros KaragiannisLawyer Theodoros Karagiannis explaining potential legal penalties.

Investigators estimate that at least three perpetrators, possibly using a motorcycle, carried out the attacks on the politicians' homes within a 17-minute span. The Anti-Terrorism Service has taken charge of the investigation. Authorities do not anticipate a claim of responsibility for the attacks, particularly given the fatal injury of Vagia Nestora. Legal experts note that charges could include potential homicide, carrying severe penalties, including life imprisonment.

When we talk about terrorism, the authorities first clash.

— Stavros BalaskasStavros Balaskas commenting on terrorism investigations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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