An explosion occurred late on Friday near the offices of Greek railway company Hellenic Train in central Athens, causing a blast that appeared to rip through a backpack left outside the office block.
The explosion, which happened close to one of the capital’s busiest highways, Leoforos Andrea Siggrou, was captured on CCTV footage and occurred during a peak traffic hour. Fortunately, no fatalities or injuries have been reported.
Police indicated that anonymous calls warning of the explosion had been made to Greek media outlets prior to the attack. The device, reportedly placed inside a padlocked backpack, was left on a scooter without license plates. A bomb disposal squad arrived at the scene too late to safely detonate the device before it exploded.
Greece’s Transport Minister, Christos Staikouras, swiftly condemned the attack, describing it as a “criminal act” that had endangered the lives of people in the area. In a statement, Staikouras emphasized, “Nothing justifies terrorism, no act of violence brings justice.” He called on the authorities and judiciary to handle the matter with urgency.
Hellenic Train also condemned the attack, confirming that no employees or passers-by were harmed, though the blast caused “limited material damage.” The company expressed its stance, saying, “Our company unequivocally condemns all forms of violence and tensions that fuel a climate of toxicity that undermines all progress.”
Though the cause of the explosion remains unclear, it occurs amid heightened public anger over a railway disaster more than two years ago. In February 2023, a tragic accident saw a freight train and a passenger train carrying 350 people collide after being mistakenly placed on the same track.
The crash, which killed 57 people—mostly young students—was a devastating blow to the nation, and numerous protests have been held since, some of which escalated into violent clashes with police.
Earlier this year, demonstrators marked the second anniversary of the disaster, with protests turning violent as hooded figures threw rocks and petrol bombs at officers. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons. An inquiry in February attributed the crash to human error, inadequate staffing, and poor maintenance. However, a date for a trial related to the incident is yet to be announced.
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