Explosive device found in Kolonos linked to possible drug-trade dispute
An improvised explosive was discovered in a public stairwell in Kolonos, injuring two civilians and two police officers, and investigators are probing a connection to drug trafficking.
Yesterday afternoon an improvised explosive device exploded in a shared stairwell of a semi-basement building in the Kolonos district, wounding two residents and two members of the Athens Crime Investigation Unit. The device was found inside a bag that also held a jar of illegal substances and a weighing scale, suggesting a link to drug-related activity. Initial theories of a police-targeted trap have been dismissed; investigators now believe the bomb may have been aimed at a competitor in the narcotics trade.
A severely injured officer appears to have accidentally activated the bomb's trigger, causing a limited-power blast that injured those nearby. The Organized Crime Directorate is collecting statements from locals and analysing surveillance footage to trace the perpetrators and determine why the device was placed at that location. The case remains open with multiple scenarios under review.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the risk of violent drug-trade disputes spilling over into public spaces, endangering civilians and police.
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