An 89-year-old man was arrested in Patra, over 200km from Athens, following a six-hour manhunt after he allegedly rampaged through the capital with a shotgun. The suspect, identified as a former garbage collector, was apprehended carrying a loaded .38 revolver at a hotel. He reportedly opened fire at a National Social Security Fund (EFKA) office, wounding one employee, before proceeding to a courthouse where three female employees were slightly injured by ricocheting pellets.
Investigation Underway
Police are investigating the motive, but local reports suggest the man had lost a court case concerning his pension, which he had applied for after receiving pensions from the US and Germany. A relative identified the suspect during the second shooting, informing authorities he had previously been hospitalised in a psychiatric facility, and police sources indicate the attacks were planned in advance.
Details of the Incident
The rampage began at an EFKA office in central Athens, where the suspect allegedly fired a shotgun, injuring a 55-year-old employee. He then moved to the Athens Courthouse, where three women aged 50, 55, and 60 suffered minor injuries from ricocheting pellets. The suspect fled the scene, triggering a massive manhunt that ended in Patra, where he was found hiding in a hotel room.
Authorities are now piecing together the suspect's movements and background. The relative who identified him stated that the man had been in and out of psychiatric care and had been increasingly agitated about his pension dispute. Police believe he may have planned the attacks for some time, as he was found with a loaded revolver in addition to the shotgun used in the rampage.
