Coordinated arson attacks target the homes of three New Democracy officials in Thessaloniki, 5 injured and one woman intubated

Three coordinated arson attacks struck Thessaloniki in the early hours of Wednesday, leaving five people injured. Among them is a woman in critical condition who has been intubated.

The targets of these attacks were the homes of three officials from the Greek party New Democracy (ND).

According to the authorities, all three incidents occurred within a span of less than 20 minutes, while suspicions are that the perpetrators were traveling on motorcycles. The investigation has been assigned to the Anti-Terrorism Service, which is examining the possibility that this was an organized scenario.

The most serious incident was recorded in the Harilaou area at around 04:35. There, a fire caused by a gas canister spread quickly and engulfed two vehicles and two motorcycles. One of the vehicles belonged to politician Aphrodite Nestora.

As a result of the flames, Nestora’s 70-year-old mother suffered severe burns across her body and is being treated while intubated in the Intensive Care Unit of the “Ippokrateio” hospital. Aphrodite Nestora suffered minor burns to her limbs, while her father and two other residents of the apartment building were taken to hospital due to breathing difficulties caused by smoke.

The fire also caused major material damage, destroying two vehicles and damaging two motorcycles.

A few minutes earlier, at around 04:23, another attack was recorded in the Tumba area. Unidentified individuals placed a gas canister at the entrance of the apartment building where former MP Savvas Anastasiades lives. The explosion damaged the building’s entrance, shattered windows and affected the facade, but no one was injured.

The first attack had been recorded at 04:18 in Pylaia, where a gas canister was placed and activated near a building that had previously been the residence of Zisis Ioakimoviç, chairman of New Democracy’s Steering Committee in Thessaloniki. In this case, no material damage or injuries were reported.

Greek authorities are examining security camera footage and other evidence to identify the perpetrators. The investigation has focused on the possibility that all three attacks were part of a well-organized operation against figures from the ruling party.