Athens: An explosion occurred outside the Hellenic Train headquarters in Athens, Greek authorities confirmed on Friday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the building was swiftly evacuated prior to the blast.
According to police officials, two Greek media outlets received anonymous warning calls alerting them to an impending explosion set to occur within 35 minutes. Officers quickly cordoned off the area and identified a suspicious bag outside the building, which houses the rail operator’s main offices.
An investigation has been launched, with authorities suspecting the device to be a makeshift bomb.
“There was no immediate claim of responsibility,” a police official noted, adding that bomb disposal experts were examining the remnants of the device.
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Hellenic Train is a subsidiary of Italy’s state railway company, Ferrovie dello Stato, and manages both passenger and freight services across Greece.
The incident comes against a backdrop of lingering public anger over railway safety. In 2023, a catastrophic train collision—the deadliest in Greek history—claimed the lives of 57 people, many of them university students. That tragedy ignited widespread protests and deepened mistrust in Greece’s transportation infrastructure and state institutions.
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Friday’s explosion raises fresh concerns about security and public sentiment surrounding the country’s rail network.
