89-Year-Old Greek Pensioner Arrested After Athens Shooting Wounds Five

Greek police detained the man in Patra, about 200 kilometres west of Athens, after a manhunt. He opened fire at the Kerameikos branch of the state pension organisation EFKA, striking an employee in the leg. Witnesses said he told the employee to “duck” before shooting. He then took a taxi to the Ambelokipi courthouse, where four more people were injured. The motive remains unknown, though investigators noted he threw envelopes containing documents on the court floor, claiming they explained his actions. Authorities have not linked the attack to any extremist group.

- The head of the National Social Security Fund, Alexandros Varveris, told ERT Radio that the gunman concealed a shotgun beneath his trench coat. - Athens court workers announced a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, citing inadequate security at court buildings as the reason for the protest. - Police recovered a second weapon during the arrest in a hotel; local sources describe the suspect as a rubbish collector with a history of mental health treatment in 2018. - Greek law permits gun ownership but imposes tight regulations, making such incidents rare.

The shooting raises questions about security protocols in public institutions, especially courts and pension offices. The strike by court employees signals broader concern about workplace safety and may pressure officials to review access controls and emergency response plans. While the attacker’s motive is still unclear, the incident could prompt renewed debate over mental health support and firearm oversight in the country.