Trainee officer shoots knife-wielding attacker inside Mandra police station

Attack at Mandra police station

An emergency security alarm was triggered across the Greek police service on the afternoon of Friday, 4 September 2026, after a man armed with a knife stormed the Mandra-Eidyllia Police Station in West Attica. The incident took place shortly after 16:00 local time under circumstances that are currently being established by law enforcement authorities. The 31-year-old suspect walked into the police building holding a knife and began uttering direct threats against the personnel stationed on duty. Station personnel confronted the intruder immediately upon entry, issuing multiple verbal commands ordering him to drop the knife and stop his aggressive conduct. The man refused to comply with the instructions of the officers, continuing to brandish the bladed weapon and advancing further into the interior of the station.

Escalation and defensive gunfire

The confrontation escalated into physical violence as the 31-year-old moved aggressively toward the officers, launching an attack directed at both the sentry on guard and the station duty officer. During the chaotic struggle inside the precinct, the assailant broke an interior glass partition, scattering sharp fragments across the floor. In response to the knife attack and the failure of repeated verbal de-escalation attempts, a trainee police officer drew his service weapon and discharged a single shot. The bullet struck the 31-year-old in the abdomen, immobilizing the attacker on the floor and preventing further violence against the station staff. The gunfire immediately brought the assault to an end while other personnel moved in to secure the perimeter.

Injuries and emergency hospitalization

Emergency services responded promptly to the emergency calls originating from the Mandra police station. An ambulance crew from the National Centre for Emergency Care (EKAB) arrived on the scene to administer urgent aid to the wounded suspect before transporting him to Thriasio Hospital in serious condition. Doctors at Thriasio Hospital initiated medical evaluations and prepared for surgical intervention to treat the abdominal gunshot wound. In addition to the wounded suspect, an officer assigned as the station sentry sustained injuries during the violent encounter, having been cut by flying glass fragments when the assailant smashed the glass partition. The injured police officer was also taken to the hospital for medical treatment and observation.

Motives and psychiatric background

Following the shooting, the Hellenic Police launched an investigation into the entire incident, examining both the sequence of the knife attack and the operational decision to discharge a service firearm. The officers involved in the confrontation began providing their initial oral statements to investigating detectives later on Friday afternoon. Official inquiries into the identity and background of the 31-year-old confirmed that he had previously been hospitalized in a psychiatric institution and was dealing with mental health difficulties. Investigators are reviewing these medical records as part of the case file, while the exact motives and intentions behind the attack on the Mandra police precinct remain unknown.