Athens police hunt 89-year-old gunman after shooting in Greek capital

28 Apr 2026 • 7:19 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Athens police hunt 89-year-old gunman after shooting in Greek capital

  • An 89-year-old gunman reportedly opened fire with a shotgun at a social security office and a courthouse in central Athens on Tuesday, wounding at least four people.
  • The assailant first shot an employee in the leg at the social security office in the Kerameikos area before fleeing the scene.
  • He then opened fire on the ground floor of a court building, where at least three female court employees were slightly wounded by ricocheting shotgun pellets.
  • Police found the shotgun at the courthouse, and the gunman reportedly left envelopes with documents explaining his actions, though the motive remains unclear.
  • The incidents occurred in Greece, where gun violence is relatively rare due to tightly regulated firearm ownership.

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