Bomb threat diverts Greek ferry Blue Star 2 to Lavrio, 1,050 evacuated as search underway

The threat

The incident began when the ferry Blue Star 2, operated by an undisclosed company, was on its scheduled route from Piraeus to the Dodecanese islands of Syros, Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos and Rhodes. The ship had departed Piraeus with a 40-minute delay, carrying 952 passengers and 98 crew members.

Shortly before 8 p.m. on Friday, authorities received a warning about an explosive device on board. According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, the alert originated from a phone call to the Ioannina police station. The exact identity of the caller remains unknown, and investigators are exploring all possibilities.

The ferry was ordered to divert immediately to the port of Lavrio, south-east of Athens, where a large-scale security operation was already being put in place.

Evacuation and port lockdown

Once the Blue Star 2 docked, the port of Lavrio was sealed off by strong forces from the Coast Guard. No one was allowed to enter or leave the pier. Fire service units and ambulances from the National Emergency Medical Service stood by as a precaution. All 1,050 people on board – passengers and crew – were evacuated before the search began.

Hundreds of passengers, including many small children and pets, gathered on the pier with their luggage, waiting in uncertainty. Some travellers told reporters they feared the exhaustive inspection could continue until morning.

Search operation

A specialised bomb disposal squad of the Hellenic Coast Guard–Hellenic Coast Guard (LS-EL.AKT), together with a trained explosive-detection dog, is carrying out a meticulous search of all areas of the vessel. There had been no public update on the findings at the time of reporting, and authorities continue to examine the credibility of the threat.