Five people were lightly wounded in two separate shooting attacks in Athens carried out by an elderly man on Tuesday (April 28), police and local media reported.

The suspect, an 89‑year‑old man, opened fire with a shotgun at a branch of Greece’s EFKA social security agency, wounding an employee in the leg, police said.

The gunman then travelled by taxi to an Athens court building, where he fired several shots inside, lightly wounding four female court clerks, according to police and court officials.

He left the shotgun at the scene, along with letters addressed to newspapers, and fled on foot, media reported.

The man was later detained in the town of Patras, some 200 kilometres from Athens, government officials said.

Police have not commented on a possible motive.

Greek media described the man as a sanitation worker who had a history of mental health issues.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ATHENS, GREECE (APRIL 28, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF SPECIAL FORCES OFFICERS, SOME CARRYING GUNS AND SHIELDS, ARRIVING ON FOOT AT ATHENS COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

2. VARIOUS OF MORE OFFICERS ON BIKES ARRIVING OUTSIDE COURT BUILDING

3. BYSTANDERS WATCHING ACROSS STREET

4. VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS AT SCENE

5. BYSTANDERS

6. WOMAN WATCHING FROM BALCONY

7. COURTHOUSE SIGN, WINDOWS

8. COURTHOUSE BUILDING

9. VARIOUS OF OFFICERS LEAVING SCENE

ATHENS, GREECE (APRIL 28, 2026) (SOTIRIS DIMITROPOULOS/EUROKINISSI - Part no resales. Part no archive. Part mandatory credit 'Sotiris Dimitropoulos/Eurokinissi. Part no use Greece. Part no commercial or editorial sales in Greece) (MUTE)

10. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE ATHENS COURT ENTRANCE AFTER INCIDENT

11. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF RESCUERS AND POLICE OFFICERS OUTSIDE COURT AFTER INCIDENT

ATHENS, GREECE (APRIL 28, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

12. VARIOUS OF ORANGE POLICE TAPE ACROSS THE EFKA SOCIAL SECURITY AGENCY / POLICE OFFICER STANDING AT DOOR / POLICE MOTORCYCLES OUTSIDE