An explosion outside the Greek Orthodox church of Saint Dionysios in central Athens on Thursday at 7am (local time) injured a police officer and a church caretaker.
The makeshift device detonated right before the morning liturgy commenced; it was discovered by the church caretaker who spotted a suspicious shoe box in front of the entrance and notified a police officer who approached it to examine it.
The police official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters that “the police officer spotted a box outside the entrance of the church and thought it was strange. The blast was not powerful, the officer was injured in the face and hands.”
The two were transferred to a hospital but neither victim’s wounds are life threatening.
Saint Dionysios’ church is located on the border of Kolonaki and Exarchia, a rather turbulent area.
This attack comes exactly ten days after the bomb hit at the Skai Channel headquarters in damage. Both devices were homemade and no organisation or individual has claimed responsibility yet.
Meanwhile, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew condemned the bomb blast in a statement:
“The Ecumenical Patriarchate strongly condemns any act of violence, particularly those targeting houses of worship, such as the last one against the Church of Aghios Dionysios in Kolonaki, which only emanates messages of love, peace and solidarity.”
“We pray for the swift recovery of the injured and express our sympathy and support to the Archbishop of Athens and his faithful and cherished flock,” he added.
