Police detained a man after two visitors were stabbed near entrances to the Acropolis and its museum, while both major tourist sites remained open.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
ATHENS, Greece — A man armed with a knife attacked two Greek American tourists Tuesday morning near the Acropolis, wounding one of the victims seriously before police detained him at the scene, authorities said.
The attack occurred on a pedestrian street near an entrance to the Acropolis and close to the Acropolis Museum, which sits at the base of the historic hill in central Athens.
Police said the victims were a man and a woman. The woman sustained minor injuries to her leg, while the man suffered more serious wounds to his arm.
Emergency responders transported both victims by ambulance to a hospital for medical treatment. Authorities did not immediately release their names or provide additional information about their conditions.
Officers took the suspected attacker into custody at the scene. His identity was not immediately disclosed.
Police said the man appeared to be experiencing psychological problems, although authorities had not announced a motive or provided information about whether he had any previous connection to the victims.
Greek news outlets reported that the assailant had been threatening people at random with a knife before the attack. A member of the public reportedly contacted police and alerted authorities to the disturbance.
The stabbing did not result in the closure of either the Acropolis or the nearby museum. Both attractions continued operating under their normal schedules following the incident.
Violent attacks in public places are considered uncommon in Greece, particularly in heavily visited areas surrounding the country’s major archaeological landmarks.
The incident follows another unusual act of violence in central Athens in April, when authorities arrested an 89-year-old man accused of firing a shotgun inside a social security office and a courthouse.
At least four people were wounded in that shooting. The suspect was reportedly motivated by grievances involving social security matters.
The Acropolis is Greece’s best-known ancient landmark and one of the most heavily visited archaeological sites in Europe.
The hill contains the Parthenon, a temple constructed nearly 2,500 years ago, along with several other surviving monuments from ancient Athens.
Approximately 4.6 million people visited the Acropolis last year, making the area around the hill, its entrances and the Acropolis Museum one of the busiest tourist districts in the Greek capital.
Authorities had not released further details about the suspect or announced possible charges as of Tuesday.
Original article
Comments