Two apartment buildings evacuated in Kallithea after discovery of picric acid vials
Greek police evacuated two apartment buildings and cordoned off streets in Kallithea on 6 October 2026 after a resident discovered two vials of crystallised picric acid in an abandoned property.
Discovery of chemical vials in Kallithea
An emergency response unfolded in the Athens municipality of Kallithea on the afternoon of Tuesday, 6 October 2026, following the discovery of containers holding hazardous chemical materials. A local resident notified the Hellenic Police and the Fire Service after spotting two suspicious glass vials in properties located along Lascaridou and Iatridou streets. Specific reports from responding personnel confirmed that the discovery occurred at an abandoned residential building located at 174 Lascaridou Street, with related checks extending to nearby premises near the intersection. The reporting resident noted that the substance inside the vials appeared to have formed solid crystals, which raised immediate concerns among emergency services regarding the chemical stability of the containers.
Deployment of bomb disposal units and evacuations
In response to the emergency call, authorities mobilized specialized units from the Hellenic Police and the Fire Service to secure the surrounding neighbourhood. Specialist technicians from the Hellenic Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, known as TEEM, arrived on the scene to inspect the contents of the vials and assess the risk of a blast. As a strict safety precaution, police officers established a wide security cordon around the intersection of Lascaridou and Iatridou streets, blocking both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Officers proceeded to evacuate the occupants of two nearby apartment buildings, ensuring that residents remained at a safe distance while explosive ordnance specialists examined the hazardous materials.
- A resident spots two glass vials containing crystallised chemicals in an abandoned building on Lascaridou Street.
- The resident contacts the Hellenic Police and Fire Service to report the presence of suspected explosive substances.
- Technicians from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit arrive to assess the chemical containers.
- Police seal the Lascaridou and Iatridou intersection and evacuate residents from two apartment buildings.
Explosion hazards and the nature of picric acid
Fire service sources confirmed that the substance inside the two discovered containers was picric acid, a chemical compound known for its explosive capabilities. The material saw widespread military application during World War I and has historically been used in industrial laboratories and dye manufacturing. Officials noted that picric acid presents severe hazards when it enters a dry or crystallised state, as the crystals become sensitive to friction, heat, and physical impact. Fire service personnel emphasized that moving the containers posed a substantial danger of accidental detonation during handling and transport, requiring the bomb disposal squad to prepare careful containment measures before extraction.
Investigation into the origin of the containers
Hellenic Police investigators initiated an active inquiry to ascertain how the hazardous vials came to be placed inside the abandoned property and nearby premises. Law enforcement personnel are working to determine the exact origin of the chemicals, the timeline of their presence at the location, and whether the items were left behind from previous property uses or recent activities. Officers at the scene gathered preliminary information from local residents and inspected adjacent properties for any further signs of abandoned hazardous substances. The cordon and the evacuation of the two apartment buildings remained in effect while technical teams carried out the safe neutralization and removal of the containers.
