Full Breakdown
89-Year-Old Man Carries Out Double Shooting in Central Athens
4/29/2026, 1:27:58 AM
The Attack in Athens
On Tuesday, an 89-year-old man entered the National Social Security Fund office in Athens’s Kerameikos district and fired a shotgun, wounding a male employee. He then moved about 5 km to a courthouse in Ambelokipi, where he shot four court staff, three of them women. Police recovered the shotgun and later arrested the suspect in Patras with a loaded .38-calibre revolver.
Background and Frequency of Gun Violence
Greek gun laws are strict and tightly regulated, and gun violence is relatively rare in the country, as noted by officials.
Key Figures
The shooter is unnamed. Alexandros Varveris, EFKA head, described the first shooting. Stratis Dounias, judiciary union chief, reported court injuries. Police and ERT led the response.
Timeline
Morning – gunman fires on EFKA’s fourth floor, injuring one. Shortly after – travels to Ambelokipi. Minutes later – opens fire on courthouse ground floor, wounding four. Evening – police arrest him in Patras.
Injuries and Weapons
Five people were injured – one man and four women – all with non-life-threatening wounds. The attacker used a short-barreled shotgun concealed under a trench coat and carried a loaded .38-calibre revolver.
Data & Statistics
Five people were injured – one man and four women – all with non-life-threatening wounds. The attacker used a short-barreled shotgun and a loaded .38-calibre revolver. The two shootings were spaced roughly 5 km apart and took place on the same day.
Official Statements & Responses
Varveris said warned an employee to duck and did not target victim; Dounias said four women were injured. ERT said gunman left envelopes with documents at courthouse, claiming they explained his motives. Police said investigation remains open and motive is unclear.
On-the-Ground Reports
Local media released surveillance video showing the suspect calmly walking with a short-barreled shotgun. Ambulances moved the injured from both sites to nearby hospitals.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reports vary on the number injured—some say four, others five. The contents of the courthouse documents are undisclosed, and the alleged pension grievance has not been confirmed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He went in, went up to the fourth floor, raised his shotgun, told an employee to duck and hit another one,” — Alexandros Varveris, EFKA head.
- “He said the gunman didn’t appear to specifically target the employee he hit.” — Alexandros Varveris, EFKA head.
- “Four women working at the small claims court were slightly injured,” — Stratis Dounias, judiciary union chief.
- “State broadcaster ERT said that the gunman had reportedly left envelopes with documents after the shooting at the courthouse, saying those were the reasons for his actions.” — ERT.
What’s Next
Police will continue the investigation, and authorities have said the case remains open while the motive is determined, according to police official statements.
