89-year-old Greek man arrested after shooting spree in Athens

Greek police arrested an 89-year-old man following a shooting rampage in Athens that left five people injured. The suspect was detained in Patra, over 200 kilometers from the capital, after a large manhunt. He allegedly opened fire inside a social security agency in Kerameikos, injuring an employee of the state pension organization EFKA. The attacker reportedly instructed an employee to 'duck' before firing a shotgun.

After the initial shooting, the suspect traveled by taxi to a nearby court in Ambelokipi, where he injured four more individuals. Stratis Dounias, head of the Athens Judicial Employees Union, stated that the man fired at the floor inside one of the court's offices. Following the incident, the suspect left behind a shotgun and fled, but was later arrested in a hotel where a second weapon was found. Local media identified him as a former rubbish collector from the Athens area, with reports indicating he had psychological issues and had been treated at a mental hospital in 2018.

Gun violence is rare in Greece, where firearm ownership is tightly regulated. In response to the shooting, Athens court staff announced a 24-hour strike, citing poor security at court buildings as a contributing factor to the incident.