Athens, Greece — A police officer was severely injured in a firebomb attack outside the home of Greece’s Supreme Court president, Ioanna Klapa, in an Athens suburb on Thursday. The officer, who was on duty guarding the residence, sustained second-degree burns to his face and hand.
The incident, which also caused damage to a squad car, is currently under investigation by Greece’s anti-terror squad. Klapa is notably recognized for her role as one of the chief investigative magistrates in the 2020 trial against the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn, during which significant sentences were imposed on the group’s leaders.
The gravity of Thursday’s attack drew immediate condemnation from government officials. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis stated that arresting those responsible was an “absolute priority” for the authorities. He emphasized the severity of the attack and the urgent need for justice. Additionally, the union of Greek judges reported that multiple firebombs had been thrown during the assault.
This attack is part of a troubling pattern of targeted violence against judicial figures in Greece. In February, a group known as Armed Response sent a letter bomb to a senior judge in Thessaloniki, marking another instance of rising threats to legal authorities.
The 2020 trial presided over by Klapa against Golden Dawn was a landmark case in Greek legal history. Golden Dawn, led by Nikos Michaloliakos, was implicated in numerous crimes, including the murders of an anti-fascist rapper and a Pakistani migrant in 2013, and assaults on Egyptian fishermen and Communist trade unionists. Michaloliakos was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison.
While Michaloliakos was briefly granted conditional release in May, his freedom was short-lived as a judicial council overturned the decision, and he was returned to custody this month. The rise of Golden Dawn highlighted significant socio-political challenges in Greece, especially during the country’s 2010 debt crisis. The party exploited public discontent over immigration and austerity measures, eventually becoming the third-largest in parliament at the height of its influence.
The recent series of attacks, including the one on Thursday, underscore a growing concern over the safety of legal and political figures in Greece, who appear increasingly targeted by extremist elements. The authorities’ response to these incidents will be crucial in maintaining public trust in the state’s ability to protect its officials and uphold the rule of law.
As investigations continue, the broader implications of such attacks on Greece’s judiciary and political stability remain a critical concern for both national security and international observers. The resolution of this case could potentially signal the effectiveness of Greece’s response to domestic terrorism and the strength of its judicial system in the face of ongoing threats.