An 89-year-old man armed with a shotgun opened fire at two separate government buildings in central Athens on Tuesday, wounding multiple people before fleeing and abandoning his weapon. Greek authorities launched a manhunt as the shocking violence unfolded across the nation’s capital.
Sequential Attacks Rock Government Buildings
The elderly suspect first entered a social security office in the Kerameikos district, traveling to the fourth floor while concealing a shotgun beneath a trenchcoat. According to Alexandros Varveris, head of the National Social Security Fund, the gunman shouted for one employee to duck before firing. The shot struck a different worker in the leg, requiring emergency responders to apply a tourniquet at the scene before hospital transport.
After fleeing the initial location, the same suspect appeared at a courthouse in another section of central Athens. He opened fire on the ground floor, wounding several additional victims. State broadcaster footage showed ambulance crews transporting at least three people from the courthouse to waiting emergency vehicles. Authorities recovered the abandoned shotgun at the courthouse scene.
Five people were injured in two separate shooting incidents in central Athens on Tuesday, authorities said
đź’˘ Police suspect an 89-year-old man as the shooter, with the investigation underway to locate him https://t.co/eeNt3BhfQM pic.twitter.com/sKnC7lgGXK
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) April 28, 2026
Evidence Left Behind Raises Questions
Following the courthouse shooting, witnesses reported the gunman threw envelopes containing documents onto the floor. According to local media accounts, he claimed these papers explained his motivation for the attacks. Police have not disclosed the contents of these materials or confirmed a clear motive for the violence.
Officials emphasized the shooting did not appear to target specific individuals. Varveris stated the gunman’s actions at the social security office suggested no deliberate selection of victims. The investigation continues as authorities work to apprehend the suspect and determine what drove an octogenarian to commit such brazen violence.
Rare Gun Violence in Tightly Regulated Nation
The incident represents an unusual outbreak of firearm violence in Greece, where gun ownership remains legal but operates under strict government regulations. The country maintains tight controls over weapons possession, making public shootings exceptionally rare compared to other nations. The use of a shotgun in sequential attacks on government facilities has shocked a society unaccustomed to such violence. As the manhunt continues, Greek citizens await answers about what prompted this elderly man’s rampage through their capital city.
