Athens police arrest Egyptian man with grenade, thwarting planned attack on judicial official's home
A man of Egyptian origin was taken into custody in the southern suburbs of Athens on Saturday, minutes after he picked up a grenade that authorities believe he intended to use against the home of a judge or prosecutor.
The arrest
Officers from the Organized Crime Division (the so-called "Greek FBI") moved in on the suspect on the afternoon of 25 July 2026, after he had collected the grenade from an accomplice's house in the southern suburbs. The man had been under surveillance for an extended period because authorities had indications he was preparing an attack. He was restrained, handcuffed, and the weapon was seized before he could use it.
The target
According to information reported by Greek state broadcaster ERT, the intended target was the private residence of a judicial official. Some reports described the target as a judge, while others specified a prosecutor. No name or exact location of the residence has been released, and it remains unclear whether the suspect acted alone or on instructions from others.
The operation
The arrest was carried out by the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime. Officers had been tracking the man's movements and intervened just as he took possession of the grenade. The police are now investigating the weapon's origin, the suspect's possible connections, and the precise motive behind the planned strike. The suspect, described only as a foreign national of Egyptian descent, is being questioned.
