Greece Arrests Three Over Bomb Attacks on Ruling Party Politicians
Greek authorities arrested three suspects linked to a deadly arson attack that killed the mother of a ruling party candidate and targeted other conservative officials in Thessaloniki.
The arrests on Friday followed a fatal incendiary bombing on July 1 that targeted the Thessaloniki home of Aphroditi Nestora, a parliamentary candidate for the governing New Democracy party. The attack claimed the life of her 72-year-old mother, Vagia Nestora, and left four others injured, according to Balkan Insight.
Greek police confirmed to Balkan Insight that a 26-year-old woman and two men, aged 29 and 24, were taken into custody in connection with the bombing. The female suspect, described by authorities as belonging to the anarchist movement, is originally from Thessaloniki but resides in Athens. She was apprehended on the island of Crete.
The two male suspects were arrested in Thessaloniki itself. Significantly, police revealed that the 24-year-old man owns property in close proximity to Nestora’s apartment building, raising questions about whether the location was used to facilitate the attack.
Coordinated Strike Against Conservative Leaders
The bombing was not an isolated incident. On the same day, unknown perpetrators planted gas canister bombs outside the homes of two additional New Democracy officials in Thessaloniki: former MP Savvas Anastasiadis and Zisis Ioakimovits, president of the party’s Thessaloniki Steering Committee.
Greek media outlet SKAI.gr, citing investigative sources, reported that authorities believe the woman and the 29-year-old man visited the 24-year-old’s apartment shortly before the attack on Nestora’s residence. The pair allegedly planted the explosive device and then returned to the same apartment, departing the following afternoon in different clothing—a detail suggesting premeditation and operational discipline.
Investigators now suspect that a separate group may have been responsible for the attacks on Anastasiadis and Ioakimovits, pointing to a broader and potentially networked domestic terror infrastructure targeting Greece’s center-right establishment.
Greece’s Growing Anarchist Violence Problem
The arrests have reignited concerns over politically motivated violence in Greece, where anarchist and far-left extremist groups have historically operated with varying degrees of impunity, particularly in urban centers like Athens and Thessaloniki. The use of improvised explosive devices against elected representatives and party officials marks a dangerous escalation in tactics.
New Democracy, which has governed Greece since 2019, has faced sporadic attacks from radical elements opposed to its pro-market reforms and law enforcement policies. The July 1 bombings represent one of the deadliest such incidents in recent years, underscoring the lethal potential of domestic extremism when left unchecked.
Greek authorities have not yet disclosed whether the suspects are believed to be part of a larger organization or cell, nor have they ruled out additional arrests as the investigation continues.
With information from Balkan Insight
