A senior citizen who shot five individuals in Athens, Greece, has triggered a manhunt. The perpetrator opened fire at an EFKA social security office and later at a courthouse in central Athens, as revealed by Greek authorities.
According to the police, the suspect armed with a shotgun initially attacked an employee at the social security office in the Kerameikos area. Following the incident, the gunman fled the scene while police officers provided assistance to the wounded employee. Later, the same individual is believed to have carried out another shooting at a court building, where four women were reportedly injured.
An eyewitness described how the assailant started shooting as people were evacuating the court building. The man left the shotgun inside and escaped. Local reports indicate that he works as a scrap metal collector.
Allegedly, the suspect had broken into the social security office earlier, shot a male employee on the fourth floor, and then traveled to the courthouse, located approximately 5km away, in a taxi. Footage from state broadcaster ERT News showed ambulance crews transporting at least three injured individuals from the courthouse to waiting ambulances.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Reports mention that the gunman tossed envelopes with documents on the floor after the courthouse shooting, claiming they were his reasons for the attack. The condition of the victims has not been officially disclosed, but they were reportedly taken to Erythros Stavros Hospital and are in stable condition.
In Greece, where firearm ownership is permitted but closely regulated, incidents of gun violence are relatively uncommon.