Authorities in Athens are reeling from a recent explosion that rocked the city center, specifically near the offices of the railway company Hellenic Train. CCTV footage captured the dramatic moment when a backpack left outside the office detonated late Friday evening. Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities reported.
The blast occurred close to one of Athens' busiest highways, Leoforos Andrea Siggrou, after anonymous calls to local media outlets warned of the impending attack. Greece's Transport Minister Christos Staikouras described the explosion as a "criminal act" that endangered innocent lives in the bustling area.
According to local news sources, the explosive device was reportedly placed inside a padlocked backpack and attached to a scooter lacking license plates. Sadly, police bomb disposal units arrived just minutes too late and could not prevent the explosion.
In a statement, Minister Staikouras strongly condemned the act, insisting that nothing justifies terrorism and that violence undermines justice. Hellenic Train confirmed that none of its employees were harmed and that the explosion caused only minimal damage.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of public outrage surrounding a deadly train crash in February 2023, where a fatal collision between freight and passenger trains claimed the lives of 57, including many students. Since then, Greece has witnessed numerous protests demanding accountability, with the inquiry attributing the tragedy to human error and systemic failures.
