An explosion occurred in a building in Kolonos, on Platonos Street, at noon on Wednesday (October 21). Two police officers were injured; one suffered a head injury, though fortunately his life is not in danger, and two civilians sustained minor injuries. The officer with the more serious injuries has been transported to 401 Hospital, and the other three to Evangelismos Hospital. In fact, one of the scenarios being investigated is that this was a trap targeting police officers.
According to information available so far, the explosion occurred at the entrance to an apartment building. The police officers arrived on Platonos Street after receiving a call about a suspicious object. According to reports, the person who called provided his or her personal information and is not involved in the case. He or she reportedly claimed that the object—a suitcase—contained drugs.
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Read more: Explosion in Kolonos; deadly trap under investigation: Four injured, including two police officers (PHOTO)
However, when officers from the local precinct arrived at the entrance of the apartment building—where, according to the report, a suitcase containing drugs was located— an explosion occurred, seriously injuring the police officer and causing minor injuries to one of the three passersby, According to witness accounts, the person who called the Hellenic Police is also among the injured and is reportedly the building manager.
Eighteen firefighters with six vehicles are on the scene, and police forces have also arrived. The police are investigating the case with the utmost seriousness. At this time, the possibility of a trap intended to target police officers cannot be ruled out.
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“We heard a loud bang; we thought there had been a car accident,” says an eyewitness
An eyewitness who owns a store in the area described the moments following the explosion in Kolonos to protothema.gr.
As he reported, the loud noise initially led him and his friends to believe that a car accident had occurred. When they went outside, they saw smoke, and shortly afterward they were told that it was a bomb explosion.
“I was with my friends and we heard a loud bang and thought there had been a car crash. We went outside, saw smoke, and a little while later they told us it was a bomb,” he described.
According to him, the authorities responded immediately, as ambulances and police arrived on the scene within about five minutes.
“The ambulances and the police arrived in five minutes. They said there were three injured; beyond that, I don’t know,” he added.
“They went to open a package and the explosion happened” – What a local
resident says New testimony regarding the circumstances surrounding the explosion in Kolonos has come to light from a local resident, who described what happened in the first few minutes after the loud bang.
As he told Protothema.gr, he was in the apartment building when the explosion was heard, with those present initially believing that a car accident had occurred.
“I was here in the apartment building. We heard the bang and went downstairs to see if there had been a car crash,” he said.
The resident then reported that there was a suspicious package at the building’s entrance.
“We saw a package. Someone went to open it—a police officer, from what we heard—and then there was an explosion,” he said.
According to him, the explosion occurred at the entrance to the apartment building, and searches of the surrounding area followed.
“Now they’re searching the entire block because they’re afraid there might be another explosive device,” he added.
Reports of a police officer attempting to open the package and of the possible existence of a second explosive device come from the resident’s testimony and have not been officially confirmed by the authorities.
“The door to my home blew up”
A woman who lives in the apartment building where the incident occurred described the dramatic moments that followed the explosion in Kolonos.
As she reported, she was away from home at the time of the explosion; however, her son was inside the apartment and called her to tell her what had happened.
“My son called me at four o’clock. The door to my house has been blown off, the windows… I don’t know what’s happened,” she said.
The woman also relayed information that, as she said, was circulating in the area regarding the circumstances of the explosion.
“They say there was a bag at the entrance and they had called the police—perhaps thinking it was drugs at first—and then the explosion happened,” she said.
The information regarding the presence of a bag at the entrance to the apartment building and the reasons for the initial call to the police is based on the woman’s account and has not been confirmed by the relevant authorities.
My son called me at 4 past. The door to my house has been blown up, the windows—I don’t know what’s happened. They say there was a bag at the entrance and they had called the police—maybe because of drugs, at first—and then there was an explosion.
Source: protothema.gr
