Greek PM attends funeral of arson victim Vagia Nestora as injured daughter defies doctors to say goodbye
The funeral of Vagia Nestora, who died after a gas-canister arson attack on her family home in Thessaloniki, is taking place in Kozani with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and opposition leader Nikos Androulakis in attendance. Her daughter, New Democracy politician Afroditi Nestora, left hospital against medical advice to be present.
Funeral in Kozani
The funeral service for Vagia Nestora is being held at the Metropolitan Church of Agios Nikolaos in Kozani, starting at noon local time. Her body was placed in the church from 11:00. Burial will follow at the Agios Georgios cemetery in Kozani.
Daughter defies medical advice
Afroditi Nestora, a New Democracy candidate and the victim's daughter, was seriously injured in the same attack and had been hospitalised at the Papanikolaou Hospital in Thessaloniki with burns to her legs. She was transferred to a plastic surgery clinic on Tuesday. Despite doctors' assessment that she was not fit for discharge, she signed out on her own responsibility and travelled to Kozani by private ambulance and wheelchair to attend the funeral.
Political figures pay respects
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is present at the service, along with PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis and representatives of other political parties. The attendance of senior politicians reflects the shock caused by the attack, which targeted homes of New Democracy officials.
Background of the attack
The arson attacks occurred on 1 July in Thessaloniki, targeting the homes of three individuals: the president of the New Democracy Thessaloniki governing committee, Zisis Ioakeimovits; former MP Savvas Anastasiadis; and Afroditi Nestora. Vagia Nestora succumbed to her injuries following the attack on her family's home.
- Arson attacks with gas canisters target three homes in Thessaloniki, including the Nestora family home.
- Afroditi Nestora transferred from the burns unit to a plastic surgery clinic at Papanikolaou Hospital.
- Body of Vagia Nestora placed in Agios Nikolaos church, Kozani.
- Funeral service begins, attended by PM Mitsotakis and opposition leader Androulakis.
Family requests donations
The family has asked that, instead of wreaths, donations be made to the "Orama Elpidas" association via a Piraeus Bank account (IBAN: GR22 0172 0140 0050 1406 1096 204, donation code: donor's full name - NESTORA V).
