Woman Killed in Rare Political Violence as Bombs Target Greek Ruling Party Members

Greece experienced an unusual day of political violence on July 2, 2026, when three improvised explosive devices detonated near the homes of ruling party members in Thessaloniki. The attacks occurred between 4:00 and 4:45 a.m. and targeted members of the conservative New Democracy party. While two explosions caused no injuries, the third resulted in several casualties, including the death of the mother of Aphrodite Nastoura, a New Democracy parliamentary candidate, who suffered severe burns and later died in hospital. Nastoura herself sustained minor burns, and her father was hospitalized with respiratory issues caused by the fire. Two other residents were briefly hospitalized for breathing difficulties.

The bombs were made from camping gas canisters combined with flammable materials. One device was placed under Nastoura’s car, igniting a fire that injured family members who came to investigate. The other two bombs were placed at entrances to residential buildings housing former MP Sabas Anastasiadis and local party committee head Zisis Ioakimovits. No group has claimed responsibility, but authorities noted that similar devices have been used in the past by anarchist or far-left armed groups in Greece.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis condemned the attacks as a "cowardly and murderous terrorist attack" and described the violence as "blind" and unacceptable in public life. He emphasized that Greece has overcome internal divisions and economic challenges and will not regress. Public Order Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis warned of a possible resurgence of domestic terrorism, alluding to the far-left group 17 November, whose leader was recently re-imprisoned. The bombings occurred amid escalating political tensions ahead of anticipated general elections, which may be called early by Mitsotakis.

The attacks mark a significant escalation in political violence in Greece, a country that has not seen such incidents on this scale in recent years. Authorities continue to investigate the incidents and have not yet identified the perpetrators.