A bomb placed in a backpack detonated near a busy highway, prompting government condemnation and highlighting ongoing tensions over transportation safety.
**Explosive Incident Rocks Central Athens: No Casualties Reported**
**Explosive Incident Rocks Central Athens: No Casualties Reported**
An explosion in Athens, triggered by an anonymous tip-off, raises security concerns in a city still healing from a past railway tragedy.
The bustling streets of central Athens were shaken by an explosion near the offices of Hellenic Train on Friday evening. CCTV footage revealed that the blast emanated from a backpack, allegedly left outside the building. Authorities reported no casualties or injuries, but the incident has reignited discussions on safety and security in public spaces.
Anonymous warnings had been made to various Greek media outlets ahead of the explosion. The device appeared to have been concealed in a padlocked backpack placed on a scooter lacking license plates. Local sources noted that the police's bomb disposal unit arrived too late to prevent the explosion, which is now under investigation.
Greece's Transport Minister, Christos Staikouras, strongly condemned the act, describing it as a "criminal act" that put lives at risk. He expressed the need for authorities and the judiciary to take action against such incidents, stating, "Nothing justifies terrorism, no act of violence brings justice." He reassured the public that no employees or civilians from Hellenic Train were harmed, although there was limited material damage to the area.
The blast raises alarm bells amidst lingering public anger over the tragic railway accident in February 2023, which claimed the lives of fifty-seven individuals when two trains collided due to human errors and systemic failures. Protests have since surged across Greece, demanding accountability and reform in railway safety protocols. Earlier demonstrations turned violent, reflecting the deep-rooted frustrations amongst citizens regarding the government's response to the tragedy.
An inquiry attributed the train crash to factors such as poor maintenance and understaffing, with a trial date yet to be confirmed. As tension rises, both the government and citizens are left grappling with the implications of this latest incident in Athens.
Anonymous warnings had been made to various Greek media outlets ahead of the explosion. The device appeared to have been concealed in a padlocked backpack placed on a scooter lacking license plates. Local sources noted that the police's bomb disposal unit arrived too late to prevent the explosion, which is now under investigation.
Greece's Transport Minister, Christos Staikouras, strongly condemned the act, describing it as a "criminal act" that put lives at risk. He expressed the need for authorities and the judiciary to take action against such incidents, stating, "Nothing justifies terrorism, no act of violence brings justice." He reassured the public that no employees or civilians from Hellenic Train were harmed, although there was limited material damage to the area.
The blast raises alarm bells amidst lingering public anger over the tragic railway accident in February 2023, which claimed the lives of fifty-seven individuals when two trains collided due to human errors and systemic failures. Protests have since surged across Greece, demanding accountability and reform in railway safety protocols. Earlier demonstrations turned violent, reflecting the deep-rooted frustrations amongst citizens regarding the government's response to the tragedy.
An inquiry attributed the train crash to factors such as poor maintenance and understaffing, with a trial date yet to be confirmed. As tension rises, both the government and citizens are left grappling with the implications of this latest incident in Athens.
