Arson attacks on New Democracy officials in Thessaloniki kill one woman, injure five; police hunt at least three suspects

The attacks

Three improvised incendiary devices were placed at apartment buildings housing New Democracy officials in Thessaloniki during the early hours of Wednesday, 1 July 2026. The devices, made from gas canisters, plastic bottles filled with flammable liquid, paraffin and insulating tape, caused explosions and fires. The second blast, at the home of former MP Savvas Anastasiadis, was captured on security video: a hooded man in black placed a bag at the entrance at 03:57, and the device detonated at 04:24.

Casualties and damage

The most severe consequences occurred at the building where Vagia Nestora lived with her daughter Afroditi and her husband. The device had been placed under a vehicle, and the resulting fire engulfed the car. Vagia Nestora suffered severe internal burns and died. Her daughter, her husband and two other residents were injured. Police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou said the second explosion heard by residents was probably caused by the vehicle’s fuel igniting.

Investigation progress

The Anti-Terrorism Unit, assisted by Thessaloniki and central police services, is mapping the perpetrators’ route. Investigators are examining video footage from a wide radius around the attack sites to trace the starting point and any hideout. Phone records are expected to be lifted shortly to check for suspicious activity linked to specific individuals. The head of the Anti-Terrorism Unit and Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis visited the scene and held a coordination meeting.

Forensic evidence

Remnants of the devices, pieces of insulating tape, gas canisters and plastic containers, have been sent to forensic labs for DNA and fingerprint analysis. Initial checks for genetic material and prints were negative, but some tape fragments remained intact after the blasts, raising hopes of recovering DNA. The simple construction of the devices offers no investigative leads.

“Essentially the construction is the simplest we encounter, so we cannot draw any leads from it. Police do not expect a claim of responsibility since there is a death and injuries to others.”

Suspects and motive

Authorities believe at least three people on two motorcycles carried out the attacks, with a possible fourth person in a support role. The distance between the last two buildings, about 15 minutes, has led investigators to consider whether two separate teams were involved. The choice of non-prominent party figures suggests a more experienced organiser selected the targets to reduce risk while sending a message against the ruling party. Police are optimistic about identifying the suspects soon, focusing on the motorcycles, which are likely privately owned and not stolen.

“We only have figures from the video footage. Certainly the police do not believe that only the at least three people who definitely participated in the attacks were involved, if we are talking about the same individuals.”

Broader context

Between 2024 and 2026, 191 case files for similar attacks with improvised incendiary or explosive devices were recorded in the Attica region alone, with 159 arrests. The Thessaloniki case has highlighted the lethal potential of even simple devices, police said.