Greek counter-terrorism police have taken three people into custody in connection with a series of firebomb attacks on homes belonging to individuals linked to the country’s ruling party, according to the citizens’ protection ministry. The arrests were announced on Friday.
The attacks, which occurred earlier this month in the northern city of Thessaloniki, resulted in the death of a 72-year-old woman who was the mother of one of the governing party’s parliamentary candidates. She passed away from burn injuries sustained in one of the attacks, and four other people were also hurt.
Investigators say the attackers placed lit gas canisters outside three separate buildings. The first two incidents resulted in explosions that caused only property damage. The third attack, however, left five people injured, including the woman who would later die from her wounds at a hospital.
Authorities have connected Friday’s three suspects to that third attack but have not released additional details about the investigation.
Two of the buildings that were targeted contained apartments belonging to figures within the ruling New Democracy party, while the third property was owned by a local politician affiliated with the same party.
Political violence through bombings and arson has a long history in Greece spanning several decades, though in more recent years such attacks have generally resulted in property damage rather than casualties.
