Unknown assailants threw a hand grenade at the Russian consulate in the Athenian neighborhood of Halandri in the early hours of Friday, causing minor damage to the building.
Police said that the consulate’s cameras showed two people on a motorbike throwing a small object over the fence. It added that they were also examining whether a motorbike found partially burned in central Athens was related to the incident.
“Last night, two strangers, riding by the consulate of the Russian Embassy on a bike, threw an explosive device at a police booth located near the consulate… Minor damage has been inflicted,” the Russian embassy said.
No organization has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Greece’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the attack, while expressing confidence that the investigation launched by the authorities will identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.
In a statement, the ministry that “the traditional and inherently long-term friendly relations” between Athens and Moscow “are not going to be affected by such illegal and utterly condemnable acts.”
Police officials said they suspect the attack was carried out by a leftist militant group called the Popular Fighters Group, which had claimed responsibility for bombing the offices of a television station and newspaper in December.
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