Greek politician’s mother dies of wounds after arson attack
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.
Vagia Nestora, 72, had extensive burns and multiple organ failure, according to the hospital where she was taken in the northern city of Thessaloniki.
He was injured in the explosion and fire that occurred in the apartment building where his daughter Afroditi Nestora lived.
Three separate attacks using 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 said Vagia Nestora’s death revealed the “deadly and inhumane nature” of political violence and called for a united response to “remove terrorism from the margins”.
He had previously said that those who carry out such attacks under the guise of social struggle are “nothing but criminals, and they will be treated as such.”
Hospital officials said that Vagia Nestora’s condition was critical due to burns covering approximately 80 percent of her body and that she died despite receiving intensive care treatment.
His daughter, a party candidate, also suffered burns and smoke inhalation and was hospitalized. Afroditi Nestora’s father, who had underlying health conditions, and two other residents were also hospitalized after experiencing breathing difficulties.
Police said improvised incendiary devices were placed outside the apartment, which triggered the explosion and fire. Two cars were damaged in the explosion, many motorcycles were damaged and the building was severely damaged.
In two other attacks, the homes of Zisis Ioakeimovits, head of New Democracy’s Thessaloniki administrative committee, and former New Democracy MP Savvas Anastasiadis were targeted. It was stated that there were no injuries in these incidents.
Reports suggested that the three attacks took place at 04:18, 04:23 and 04:35 on Wednesday. Police believe the three attacks were carried out by the same perpetrators, who are suspected of traveling on a motorbike and placing the devices one after the other.
The Greek Counter-Terrorism Service took over the investigation. No group said it was behind the attacks and no arrests were made.
Greece’s opposition leader Nikos Androulakis said that those responsible for Vagia Nestora’s death “must be arrested, brought to justice and punished.”
“In a democratic society governed by the rule of law, there can be no tolerance for criminal acts,” he added.
The country’s former prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, also condemned the attack and said “terrorism has no place in democracy.”
