A large explosion occurred early Friday morning at a gas station in the city of Piraeus, Greece, which is about 9 kilometers from Athens. Information suggests that the attack may be linked to the mafia. According to preliminary reports, a device was placed approximately 40 meters from a supporting wall that separates a piece of land from the gas station, which was open at the time of the explosion with employees inside; however, there were no reports of injuries.
At around 3 AM, the area was shaken by the explosion, which caused significant damage to the gas station, as well as damage to at least 10 vehicles and to the windows of nearby homes and shops. Officers from the Bomb Disposal Unit rushed to the scene, cordoned off the area, and halted traffic on Omiridou Skilitsi Street and surrounding streets.
The website "Piraeus Press" noted that this attack is part of a "redistribution" of control by mafia organizations operating in Piraeus and the broader area, indicating that authorities do not consider this attack an act of terrorism, but rather a clear assault by individuals under general criminal law. The amount of explosives used was substantial given the destruction it caused. Remnants of the explosive device have already been transferred to the police's forensic laboratories to determine the type of explosive material used.
