A policeman speaks with a woman outside a courtroom after a gunman opened fire, wounding several people in Athens
Greek police on Tuesday arrested an 89-year-old man accused of carrying out two separate shooting incidents in Athens that left at least four people injured, authorities said.The suspect was arrested in the coastal city of Patras, about 200 kilometers west of the capital, after remaining at large for several hours.
According to the state broadcaster ERT, citing the Associated Press, he was tracked to a hotel near the bus station and was found in possession of a weapon.The shooting reportedly occurred over complaints regarding pension payments, and the suspect is also believed to be suffering from psychological problems. Authorities are examining documents he allegedly left behind in court that explain his motives.Police said the man first opened fire at a social security office in the Keramikos area of central Athens, wounding an employee. Officers who rushed to the scene provided first aid before the gunman fled.He is later suspected of opening fire again on the ground floor of a court building in another part of central Athens, where several people were injured.Stratis Donias, head of the Athens Judicial Employees Union, said initial reports indicated that the gunman opened fire on the ground inside an office, slightly wounding at least three female employees.
Another woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.Alexandros Varfiris, head of the National Social Security Fund (EFKA), said the suspect went to the fourth floor of the building and opened fire after warning an employee to stay away. The bullet hit another worker in the leg. He added that it appeared that the attacker hid the weapon under a raincoat.Gun violence is relatively rare in Greece, where possession of firearms is permitted but strictly regulated.