Surveillance footage captured the intense moment a bomb detonated in central Athens, damaging the headquarters of the Greek railway operator, Hellenic Train.
Reports say the explosive was hidden in a backpack left outside the office building late Friday night. Authorities confirmed that anonymous callers had warned several Greek media outlets ahead of the blast. Fortunately, no injuries or deaths have been reported.
Although the precise motive remains unclear, the attack follows continued public anger over the 2023 train crash that claimed 57 lives.
Greece’s Transport Minister, Christos Dimas, strongly denounced the incident, labeling it a “criminal act” that posed a serious threat to public safety. According to local media, including the newspaper Efsyn and the news site Zougla—both of which received the warning calls—the bomb was stashed in a locked backpack placed on a license-plate-free scooter.
The police bomb squad reportedly arrived too late to prevent the explosion.
In a public statement, Dimas stressed: “This was a dangerous criminal act that put the lives of workers and bystanders at risk in a busy area of Athens during rush hour. Violence and terrorism cannot be justified. It’s now up to the judiciary to act.”
The explosion occurred near Leoforos Andrea Siggrou, one of Athens’ most trafficked roads. Hellenic Train confirmed that no staff or civilians were harmed and described the physical damage as minor.
The company stated: “We firmly reject any form of violence or tension that contributes to a toxic environment and undermines collective progress.”
This bombing comes against the backdrop of ongoing national grief and anger over a deadly railway collision in February 2023, when a freight train and a passenger train with 350 people on board were mistakenly directed onto the same track. The majority of victims were students, and many more were injured.
Since then, Greece has seen repeated protests, some turning violent, especially during this year’s anniversary of the tragedy. Investigations have blamed the crash on human error, lack of maintenance, and understaffing. A trial date has yet to be set.
