Greek ruling party calls for protests after firebomb kills candidate's mother

Greece's governing New Democracy party has called for protests after a 72-year-old woman, the mother of one of its parliamentary candidates, died from severe burns sustained in a firebomb attack. Attackers placed flaming gas canisters at three homes of local party officials in Thessaloniki early Tuesday, causing explosions.

Vagia Nestora, mother of New Democracy candidate Afroditi Nestora, died of organ failure after suffering burns covering 80% of her body, according to a hospital statement. The candidate also sustained burns, and three other individuals were wounded.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, which mark the first time in over a decade that a person has been killed in an attack targeting Greek politicians. Greece has a history of political violence, but assassinations became rare about 20 years ago.

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis described the incident as an "extreme coordinated murderous attack" and a "cowardly act by extreme exponents of violence." He stated, "Terrorism will not win! No one will be afraid."

The New Democracy party and its youth branch, ONNED, announced a rally for Thursday evening outside the hospital where Nestora died, vowing to stand "united against terrorism."

A police anti-terrorism unit has taken over the investigation, with police spokeswoman Constantina Dimoglidou telling Greek media that evidence suggests the attacks were coordinated and that authorities are reviewing video footage to confirm if the same perpetrators were involved in all three incidents.