Greece on edge: Lady dies in Thessaloniki blast amid rising tide of far-left extremist assaults.
Shut-up of fingerprints on a fingerprint card, forensic examination, registration of criminals in Greece.
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A girl was tragically killed in Thessaloniki after an explosive machine detonated in her arms within the early hours of Saturday morning (Might 3), in what Greek police consider was a failed try to focus on a close-by financial institution.
The 38-year-old—identified to police for previous robberies—was reportedly carrying the machine to plant it at an ATM when it exploded simply earlier than 5 AM. The blast shook town’s quiet northern streets, damaging close by outlets and vehicles. Police confirmed she died on the scene.
“It seems that she was carrying an explosive machine and deliberate to plant it at a financial institution’s ATM,” a senior officer advised Reuters. “One thing went fallacious and it exploded in her arms.”
Authorities at the moment are investigating the lady’s potential hyperlinks to far-left extremist networks—a rising concern in Greece, the place incidents of political violence have change into alarmingly frequent.
New militant group claims duty for Athens bombings
Within the weeks main as much as the Thessaloniki blast, a militant organisation calling itself Revolutionary Class Self-Defence claimed duty for 2 separate bombings in Athens, together with one exterior the places of work of the nationwide rail operator, Hellenic Practice.
The machine, positioned in a backpack, exploded on April 11 after nameless warning calls have been made to media shops. No accidents have been reported, however police say the timing and precision of the assault level to a coordinated operation.
The identical group additionally admitted duty for a February bombing close to the Labour Ministry and has linked its actions to public outrage over the lethal 2023 rail catastrophe in Tempi, the place 57 individuals have been killed after a freight practice and a passenger practice collided.
In an announcement printed on-line, the group stated its assaults have been in “armed opposition to the state,” dedicating them to “the Palestinian individuals and their heroic resistance.” Police are investigating potential connections between this group and long-defunct however notorious outfits like November 17, as soon as categorized as a terrorist organisation.
Echoes of violence: current incidents paint a worrying image
The previous 12 months have seen a surge in politically motivated assaults in Greece:
- October 2024: A person was killed and a girl injured in an Athens residence after a do-it-yourself bomb unintentionally exploded. Two others fled the scene; one later surrendered to police. Authorities seized weapons, wigs, and disguises—hallmarks of underground cells.
- February 2025: An explosive machine detonated exterior the Labour Ministry in central Athens, once more with no accidents however a transparent intent to disrupt.
- June 2024: Arsonists attacked a synagogue in Athens, whereas different Jewish-owned companies have been focused with firebombs. A number of suspects, together with one from Iran, have been arrested on costs of racially motivated crimes.
- February 2025: Two Israeli vacationers have been stabbed in central Athens after reportedly being heard talking Hebrew. One suspect stays at giant.
The rise in antisemitic and ideologically pushed violence has left many Greeks deeply involved—and rightly so.
A nation haunted by its previous and challenged by its current
Greece has lengthy struggled with political extremism on either side of the spectrum.
Far-left anarchist teams like Conspiracy of Hearth Cells and Revolutionary Battle have been lively for over a decade, whereas far-right actions such because the now-banned Golden Daybreak proceed to exert affect by way of new political proxies.
Safety stretched skinny
Greece’s location has made it a transit level for overseas fighters and a goal for extremist networks. From ISIS operatives getting into Europe disguised as refugees to anarchist bomb-makers working inside Athens itself, the stress on safety companies is immense.
John Nomikos, a Greek intelligence skilled, advised CNN: “The nation urgently wants a Division of Homeland Safety to coordinate intelligence sharing throughout its companies.”
The EU has deployed counterterror officers to Greek islands to display incoming migrants and stop infiltration. However as the latest wave of assaults reveals, the menace just isn’t solely exterior—it’s more and more homegrown.
Public security below stress
As police look at CCTV footage, cell phone knowledge, and forensic proof from the current blast, the sense of urgency is mounting.
For many Greeks, these should not distant political points—they’re clear and current risks. From rail disasters to left-wing motivated racial violence, the material of public belief is being examined.
Within the birthplace of democracy, the stakes couldn’t be greater.
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