Greek police on Tuesday arrested an 89-year-old man accused of carrying out two separate shootings in Athens that left at least four people injured, authorities said.
The suspect was detained in the port city of Patras, around 200 kilometres west of the capital, after remaining at large for several hours. According to state broadcaster ERT, quoted by Associated Press, he was tracked to a hotel near the bus station and found in possession of a weapon.
According to AFP, the shootings were reportedly triggered by grievances related to pension payments, and the suspect was also believed to have psychological issues. Authorities are examining documents he allegedly left behind at the courthouse outlining his motives.
Police said the man first opened fire at a social security office in the Kerameikos area of central Athens, injuring an employee. Officers who responded to the scene provided first aid before the gunman fled. He was later suspected of opening fire again on the ground floor of a court building in another part of central Athens, where several people were wounded.
Stratis Dounias, head of the Athens Judicial Employees Union, said initial reports suggested the gunman fired at the floor inside an office, with ricocheting pellets slightly injuring at least three female court employees. Another woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Alexandros Varveris, head of the National Social Security Fund (EFKA), said the suspect had gone to the fourth floor of the building and opened fire after warning an employee to duck. The shot struck another worker in the leg. He added that the attacker appeared to have concealed the weapon under a trench coat.
Gun violence is relatively rare in Greece, where firearm ownership is permitted but strictly regulated.
