Mother of New Democracy candidate dies after triple arson attack on party officials in Thessaloniki
A coordinated series of gas-canister attacks on the homes of three New Democracy figures in Thessaloniki early Wednesday left Vagia Nestora dead and four others injured, including her daughter, party candidate Afroditi Nestora.
The attacks
Three improvised incendiary devices were detonated within 17 minutes in the early hours of 1 July 2026, targeting residences linked to the ruling New Democracy party. The first explosion occurred at 04:18 outside a building in Pylaia where Zisis Ioakeimovits, president of the ND Thessaloniki committee, owns apartments. Six minutes later, a second device went off at the entrance of former MP Savvas Anastasiadis's apartment block in Toumba, causing limited material damage. The third and most severe attack struck at 04:35 in the Charilaou district, where a gas canister was placed under a car in the parking area of the building housing Afroditi Nestora, an ND candidate.
- First device explodes outside Zisis Ioakeimovits's property in Pylaia, no injuries.
- Second explosion at Savvas Anastasiadis's apartment entrance in Toumba, limited damage.
- Third and most severe attack in Charilaou; device placed under car, five injured, one fatality.
Victims and casualties
Vagia Nestora, the candidate's mother, suffered burns covering more than 80% of her body after she and her daughter rushed to the parking area to extinguish flames that had engulfed two vehicles. She was intubated and admitted to the intensive care unit of Ippokrateio Hospital but died 13 hours later from multi-organ failure. Afroditi Nestora sustained first- and second-degree burns, inhalation injury, and vocal cord damage; her father Panagiotis was treated for respiratory problems. Two other residents of the same building were also hospitalised.
I was away from my home in Thessaloniki. I was informed that gas canisters were placed around 3 a.m. The glass entrance was smashed, a small fire broke out, and the police managed to extinguish it. There are cameras. One person, from what I'm told, came out of the woods and left the canisters.
Investigation focuses on anti-authoritarian circles
The Anti-Terrorism Unit has taken over the case, with investigators concentrating on the active anti-authoritarian scene in Thessaloniki. Police sources told Greek media that the operation bore the hallmarks of a well-prepared plan, and that similar attacks using homemade devices have been recorded in the city before. Authorities believe the perpetrators belong to a group linked to occupations and clashes at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and that younger members with less extensive criminal records may have been used to carry out the strikes.
Evidence and manhunt
CCTV footage from the surrounding areas has yielded clear images of at least three suspects moving on two motorcycles. Two individuals on one bike are believed to have planted the devices, while a third on a second motorcycle acted as a lookout; a possible fourth person is also under investigation. The footage captured the suspects' faces and their route before and after the attacks. Forensic teams are analysing remnants of the devices, small plastic containers with flammable liquid, for fingerprints and DNA, while phone records from the area are being examined. Police are also taking witness statements to reconstruct the perpetrators' movements.
