A woman tragically lost her life in Thessaloniki, Greece, early Saturday morning when a bomb she was carrying exploded in her hands. The incident occurred around 5 a.m. as she reportedly intended to place the device outside a bank.
The 38-year-old woman, who has not been publicly named, had a criminal history that included drug-related offenses and involvement in thefts and robberies. Authorities are investigating whether she had any connections to extreme leftist groups, as the police’s organized crime division looks into the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
The blast caused damage to several nearby storefronts and vehicles, highlighting the potential dangers posed by such incidents. Greece has a history of politically motivated violence and bombings, often linked to organized crime. While large-scale bombings have decreased since the 1980s and 1990s, new smaller groups have emerged, continuing this troubling trend.
In a similar incident last year, a man died when a bomb he was trying to assemble exploded in an apartment in Athens. That explosion also raised concerns about a new generation of domestic extremists. Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrisochoidis commented on the worrying rise in such incidents.
In April, a group called Revolutionary Class Struggle claimed responsibility for a bombing near the offices of Hellenic Train in central Athens. Although that explosion caused limited damage and no injuries, it was part of a broader pattern of violence that has sparked public outrage, particularly following a tragic railway accident that claimed 57 lives two years ago.
As investigations continue into the recent explosion in Thessaloniki, the community remains on edge, grappling with the implications of such violent acts and the potential for further unrest.