The blast in Kolonos

Greek police went to an apartment building in the Kolonos district of northwest Athens on Wednesday, 21 October, after its manager reported a suspicious bag left at the entrance. The manager told the emergency line the bag held drugs, and a patrol was sent to check it as part of an anti-drug operation. According to a Greek police statement cited by Europa Press, the explosion came at about 15:30 local time while one of the officers was inspecting the bag. Rescue crews took all four injured people away from the scene by ambulance. RMF24 reported that the explosive charge had been hidden inside the bag.

Injuries and hospital care

Police said two officers and two civilians were hurt, and one of the civilians was the building manager. The officer who opened the bag is in serious condition and is being treated at the 401 Military Hospital, according to the police statement. Ta Nea, cited by Diario de Noticias, reported that this officer suffered injuries to the body and head and underwent surgery, though the officer's life is not at risk. Notícias ao Minuto reported that the other officer had light injuries. RMF24, citing preliminary information, said none of the four faces a threat to life.

Police officers2

Civilians2

Police officers

2 people

Civilians

2 people

Data from the article text

Evidence found at the scene

Sources close to the investigation told Europa Press that the remains included an electric detonator, batteries and a quantity of low-power explosives, as well as drugs and a scale, although the scale had not been officially confirmed. ERT, the Greek public broadcaster, reported through Diario de Noticias that the device had elements resembling a box or part of an electronic device, along with a button. One of the officers quoted by Notícias ao Minuto said pills and scales were also in the bag. Another police source told RMF24 that the bomb could have been set off remotely.

Terrorism and the investigation

Accounts differ on whether a terrorist motive is being examined. ERT reported that the case was first handled by the police anti-terrorism service, but that a terrorist act was provisionally ruled out and the file moved to the organized crime directorate. Notícias ao Minuto said investigators had no information linking the blast to a terrorist attack. RMF24 reported that police do not treat the incident as a terrorist act and that the homicide department is leading the probe. Forensic experts and criminal investigators were still inspecting the site after dark, according to images cited by Notícias ao Minuto.

Earlier Plaka blast

Notícias ao Minuto also referred to an explosion on 25 September in the Plaka tourist district, near the Acropolis, which caused a building to collapse and killed six people: a British citizen, a Greek woman and two American couples. No connection between the two blasts has been reported. No arrest has been reported in the Kolonos case so far.