Deadly arson attack in Thessaloniki: New Democracy candidate’s mother killed

A series of arson attacks on the houses of three representatives of the New Democracy party in Thessaloniki ended in the death of a person. After the fire died in the entrance of a house in the Harilau area 72-year-old Vaiya Nestoramother of the party candidate in the first electoral district of Thessaloniki Aphrodite Nestor.

Three attacks using improvised devices based on tourist gas canisters occurred in the early morning July 1 in Pylea, Toumba and Harilaou. All episodes occurred in about twenty minutes, which led the police to consider the possibility of a coordinated action against targets associated with New Democracy.

The heaviest attack occurred in Harilaou

Most serious consequences there was a fire in the house where Aphrodite Nestor lives. The fire started in the apartment building, spread to cars and motorcycles, and smoke quickly filled the building.

Deadly series of arson attacks in Thessaloniki: mother of New Democracy candidate killed pic.twitter.com/VriDy81sA7

— Athens News (@russianathens) July 2, 2026

They were taken to the hospital five people. Among them were Aphrodite Nestora herself, her parents and two residents of the house. Nestora received burns to her arms and legs, as well as inhalation damage to her respiratory tract. Her father was hospitalized with symptoms of smoke inhalation. Two other residents received medical care in the emergency department.

Vaiya Nestor’s condition was extremely difficult from the first minutes. According to the official statement from the Ippocratio Hospital, the woman was admitted to the emergency department at 05:53, was intubated and transferred to intensive care. She had burns that covered about 80% body surfaceas well as multiple organ failure. At 18:50, doctors recorded the death of the patient. Hospital message published Here.

Three addresses in a few minutes

The first episode occurred at about 04:18 in Pylea, near a building associated with the chairman of the management committee of New Democracy in Thessaloniki Zisis Joakimowitz. Then at around 04:23 a similar device went off at the house of former MP Savvas Anastasiadis in Toumba. There, the damage was limited: the front door and glass were damaged.

The third attack occurred at around 04:35 in Harilau. It was there that the fire spread to parked cars and motorcycles, after which the residents of the entire house were threatened. According to Associated Pressall injuries were received during the last fire.

The investigation is being conducted by the police and the anti-terrorism unit

Police are studying CCTV footage and checking the possible route of the attackers. According to Greek media reports, the investigation is considering the theory that the perpetrators traveled on a motorcycle and chose all three addresses in advance.

The investigation has been transferred to the counter-terrorism unit because the attacks were aimed at people associated with the ruling party and followed a single scenario. Reported this To Vima.

However at the moment no one was detainedand no organization has publicly claimed responsibility for the attacks. Therefore, it is premature to talk about specific performers, their political motives or membership in any group.

Prime Minister’s reaction

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the victims in hospital and said those who carry out such attacks under the guise of “social struggle” should be treated as common criminals and face justice.

After the death of Vaia Nestor, the Prime Minister called the incident a manifestation of “blind violence in public life” and declared that violence and political hatred should not be tolerated.

The Harilau tragedy was a rare case in which a ggazakya attack, usually limited to property damage, resulted in the death of a person. Now the investigation will have to establish not only the perpetrators, but also whether there was an expectation that fire and smoke could lead to serious consequences for the residents.

Source link