A bomb went off late Friday night near the offices of Hellenic Train in central Athens, Greece. No injuries were reported, but the explosion caused limited damage.
The site is located on Syngrou Avenue, a busy area filled with restaurants and bars. Police confirmed that the bomb had been placed inside a bag left near the building. Forensic officers were seen at the location collecting evidence.
Local media reported that both a newspaper and a news website had received an anonymous call warning about the bomb roughly 40 minutes before it detonated.
Hellenic Train issued a statement confirming that the blast occurred very close to its main offices. The company said authorities responded immediately to the warning, and added that it is working closely with officials to ensure staff safety.
The explosion comes at a time of mounting anger over the 2023 train crash in Tempe that killed 57 people, mostly young students. The crash, caused by two trains mistakenly placed on the same track, exposed major safety issues in Greece’s railway system. Critics have accused the government of mishandling the situation and failing to hold top officials accountable.
In recent weeks, protests have intensified, especially around the second anniversary of the crash. Some demonstrations turned violent, with clashes between police and protestors. So far, only railway staff have been charged in connection with the disaster.
On Friday, just hours before the blast, parliament debated the government’s handling of the tragedy. Lawmakers voted to refer a former minister to judicial authorities for possible misconduct related to the crash’s aftermath.
Greece has a long history of politically-driven violence. While older extremist groups have been dismantled, smaller ones continue to carry out attacks. Last year, a man was killed while trying to build a bomb in central Athens, renewing concerns about rising domestic extremism.
