In Thessaloniki, Greece, a tragic incident occurred early Saturday morning when a 38-year-old woman was killed by the explosion of a bomb she was carrying. The police reported that the explosion took place around 5 a.m., as the woman appeared to be on her way to plant the bomb outside a nearby bank.
The blast not only resulted in the woman's death but also caused damage to several storefronts and vehicles in the vicinity. Authorities, who chose not to publicly identify the woman, revealed that she had a criminal background associated with drug-related offenses and prostitution. She had previously been involved in at least one robbery and had a history of thefts. Following the explosion, the Greek police's organized crime division launched an investigation into the incident, exploring the possibility of her connections to extreme leftist groups.
Greece has a complex history with politically motivated violence, dating back to the 1970s. Over the decades, various organized crime factions have executed bombings and targeted killings. While the more prominent groups that were active in the 1980s and 1990s tended to target politicians and foreign entities, newer smaller groups have come into existence in recent years. The domestic environment remains volatile, with instances of bombings and other violent acts persisting. For instance, last year in Athens, a man was fatally injured when a bomb he was assembling detonated in an apartment, an event that also caused severe injuries to a woman present at the scene.
In light of these developments, Michalis Chrisochoidis, the Minister of Citizen Protection, warned of an emerging new generation of domestic extremists. In April, a group that identified itself as Revolutionary Class Struggle claimed responsibility for a bomb explosion in central Athens near Hellenic Train's offices, which occurred shortly after the tragic anniversary of Greece's deadliest railway disaster. This incident, where a freight and a passenger train ended up on the same track, resulted in the loss of 57 lives and intense public outcry over systemic safety issues within the country's railway system.
The group stated that their bombing actions are part of a broader armed struggle against the state's authority. The recent bombing connected to the anniversary of the railway disaster elicited significant responses and protests, led by the victims' relatives against the government's handling of safety measures in public transport.
As police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman's death and any potential ties to organized crime or extremist factions, the overall climate in Greece remains one of tension and concern regarding political violence and public safety.
