Gunman on the run after multiple shootings in central Athens

Published on 28/04/2026 - 11:34 GMT+2•Updated 11:36

A gunman opened fire at a social security office and at a courthouse in central Athens on Tuesday, wounding several people, Greek authorities said.

A police operation was under way to locate the gunman, who Greek media reported was an 89-year-old man.

Police said a suspect armed with a shotgun initially opened fire at the National Social Security Fund (EFKA) office in the centre of the Greek capital, wounding an employee.

Police officers who arrived at the scene treated the man, but the gunman fled the scene.

The same man was suspected of later opening fire on the ground floor of the Court of Appeals building in Athens, with several people wounded there, police said, adding that authorities had found the shotgun.

Footage from state broadcaster ERT News showed ambulance crews transporting at least three people from the courthouse to waiting ambulances.

The motive for the shooting was unclear. ERT said that the gunman had reportedly thrown envelopes with documents onto the floor after the shooting at the courthouse, saying those were the reasons for his actions.

Gun violence is relatively rare in Greece, where firearm ownership is allowed but tightly regulated.

This is a developing story and our journalists are working on further updates.