ATHENS - An extremely regrettable yet clearly isolated incident took place early Tuesday morning, July 21, at the south entrance of the Acropolis archaeological site. A 60-year-old man with a severe psychiatric history launched an unprovoked knife attack, injuring a couple of Greek-American tourists visiting the monument.
By:Evageline Plakas
The reaction of the Greek authorities was swift, both at an operational level”providing first aid and arresting the perpetrator—and at a political level, with the Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) prioritizing the safety and care of the two expatriate visitors.
The Timeline and the Immediate Intervention of the Hellenic Police
The incident occurred around 08:05 in the morning, next to the ticket offices and opposite the Acropolis Museum, just as the archaeological site was opening. The perpetrator began threatening random passersby. Before police intervention could stop him further, he attacked the expatriate couple from the USA (a 53-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman). In his attempt to protect his wife, the 53-year-old sustained a leg wound, while the woman suffered minor injuries.
DIAS motorcycle police officers arrived at the scene within minutes, immobilized and arrested the perpetrator, and immediately applied a special hemostatic bandage to limit the bleeding of the 53-year-old. The victims were transported by EKAB ambulance to the Red Cross Hospital, where they received optimal medical care. Their health condition is stable, they are in no danger, and they are expected to be discharged later today.
As it became known, the 60-year-old perpetrator suffers from severe psychological problems and had been hospitalized in a psychiatric clinic last June, confirming the random and non-targeted nature of the attack.
The Ministry of Tourism and GNTO Stand by the Expatriates
From the very first moment of the briefing, the Minister of Tourism, Ms. Olga Kefalogianni, and the leadership of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) maintained open communication channels with the competent authorities and the US Embassy in Athens.
The Secretary General of the GNTO, Mr. Andreas Fiorentinos, personally visited the two injured expatriate patients at the hospital to express the practical support and care of the Greek State, while warmly thanking the leadership of the Ministry of Health and the medical staff for their immediate response.
In an official statement, Mr. Fiorentinos emphasized:
"From the very first moment we were informed about today's incident in the Acropolis area, the Minister of Tourism, Ms. Olga Kefalogianni, and we at the Greek National Tourism Organization were in direct communication with the competent authorities and the US Embassy. I personally visited the two injured tourists at the hospital to express the practical support of the Greek State, thanking the leadership of the Ministry of Health and the medical staff providing the best possible care.
The safety of our country's visitors is our absolute priority. This was an isolated and extremely regrettable incident, which was handled immediately by the Hellenic Police. The injured tourists, to whom we wish a speedy and full recovery, are in good health and are expected to be discharged today.
Greece remains one of the safest and most hospitable tourist destinations internationally. We continue to work closely with all competent bodies so that every visitor feels safe and enjoys the unique hospitality experience our country offers."
Uninterrupted Operation of the Archaeological Site
It is worth noting that the incident did not affect the operation of the Acropolis. Greece's premier archaeological site continued to welcome the thousands of tourists arriving daily as normal, proving the swift reflexes of the country's security mechanisms.
The Greek government and tourism bodies send a clear message to the international community and the diaspora: Athens remains a safe, secure, and welcoming embrace for its millions of visitors.
