Key facts
- The mother of a Greek politician, Vagia Nestora, died from injuries sustained in a firebomb attack.
- Five people were injured in three separate firebomb attacks targeting homes of ruling New Democracy party members in Thessaloniki.
- Vagia Nestora, 72, suffered extensive burns and multiple organ failure.
- Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the hospital and condemned the violence.
- The attacks involved improvised incendiary devices placed outside apartment buildings.
The mother of a politician from Greece's ruling New Democracy party has died from injuries sustained in a series of suspected arson attacks targeting party officials in Thessaloniki. Vagia Nestora, 72, suffered extensive burns and multiple organ failure, according to the hospital where she was taken in the northern city. She was wounded in an explosion and fire at the apartment building where her daughter, Afroditi Nestora, lives.
Three separate attacks involving petrol bombs and other improvised devices took place within minutes of each other in Thessaloniki in the early hours of Wednesday. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis travelled to the hospital in Thessaloniki following the attacks and told reporters that "violence has no place in an organised society." He vowed that those responsible would be found and brought to justice.
Hospital officials said Vagia Nestora had been admitted in a critical condition with burns covering about 80% of her body and she died later despite receiving intensive care treatment. Her daughter, a party candidate, also suffered burns and smoke inhalation and remains in hospital. Afroditi Nestora's father, who has underlying health problems, and two other residents were also admitted after suffering breathing difficulties.
Police said improvised incendiary devices had been placed outside the apartment building, triggering the explosion and fire. The blast destroyed two cars, damaged several motorcycles and caused extensive damage to the building. The two other attacks targeted the homes of Zisis Ioakeimovits, chairman of New Democracy's Thessaloniki administrative committee, and former New Democracy MP Savvas Anastasiadis. No injuries were reported in those incidents.
Greece's Counter-Terrorism Service has taken over the investigation and is examining whether the three attacks were coordinated. Officers are analysing CCTV footage and have not announced any arrests. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.