The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) updated its travel advisory for Greece early this week, due to bomb attacks in Athens and possible civil unrest.
The information under Safety and security: Civil unrest/political tension contained on the DFAT website, was updated after a homemade bomb exploded inside a suburban Athens shopping mall, on January 20, slightly injuring two security guards.
“Groups opposed to the Greek Government, Greek institutions and Western commercial and diplomatic interests have bombed government, commercial and other buildings in Greece on several occasions. This included bomb attacks at several locations in Athens in January 2013 and a serious bomb attack on a government building in December 2010. Such attacks have resulted in death and/or injury. Further attacks cannot be ruled out,” the DFAT website reads.
Despite the updated information, the overall level of the advice has not changed, and Greece keeps its position in a group of countries where “normal safety precautions” should be exercised.
“We continue to advise Australians to exercise normal safety precautions in Greece,” the DFAT website notice reads.
The DFAT has advised Australian citizens and travellers to monitor the media and be prepared to change their travel plans in case of transport disruptions.
Australian citizens are also advised to avoid all protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent. As main areas in Athens that have been effected by demonstrations and riots in past, the website refers to Syntagma Square, Monastiraki (tourist area) and Omonia.