GREECE: Clean-up begins after gunmen ram a van packed with gas canisters into Microsoft's Greek headquarters in Athens and then set the vehicle on fire, causing damage but no injuries

Record ID: 353653

  • Title: GREECE: Clean-up begins after gunmen ram a van packed with gas canisters into Microsoft's Greek headquarters in Athens and then set the vehicle on fire, causing damage but no injuries
  • Date: 28th June 2012
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JUNE 27, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MICROSOFT BUILDING AND MICROSOFT SIGNS VARIOUS OF MICROSOFT BUILDING DAMAGED BY FIRE ATTACK DESTROYED VAN IN FRONT OF DAMAGED MICROSOFT BUILDING BROKEN WINDOW, FIRE ATTACK DAMAGE IN BUILDING DESTROYED VAN VARIOUS OF DESTROYED VAN IN FRONT OF MICROSOFT BUILDING GENERAL MANAGER OF MICROSOFT HELLAS, ERNST-JAN STIGTER
  • Embargoed: 13th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA5O4VE2Q0L3CR5AS7GO1RKY4JM
  • Story Text: Gunmen rammed a van packed with gas canisters into Microsoft's Greek headquarters in Athens and then set the vehicle on fire, causing damage but no injuries, police said on Wednesday (June 27).
    As day broke on Wednesday the damage caused by the arson attack was fully revealed. The building's lobby was nearly completely destroyed. A torched van, which police believe was used in the attack, sat a few feet outside the building.
    At least two people wielding pistols and a machine gun kept security guards away as they carried out the attack at about 0145 GMT, police said.
    General Manager of Microsoft Hellas, Ernst-Jan Stigter, said that he was told three people attempted to blow up the offices before dawn.
    "They entered the office in a van," said Stigter. "They smashed the entrance, pulled out gasoline and put it all over the place in an effort to burn the whole place down. I came here at 5:30 this morning to see."
    Police said earlier that the guard at the building saw three armed assailants carry out the attack and then flee the scene. The guard also fled. Police sources described the attack as unusual as they could not immediately discern the motive behind the attack.
    In the past anarchist groups would attack large international companies with gas canisters as a symbolic gesture against capitalism. Previous assaults have been mostly blamed on left-wing extremist groups, but police said it was too early to say who was behind Wednesday's attack.
    Microsoft said it would shut its office in the city while it assessed the damage.
    The fire brigade estimated the damage at about 60,000 euros ($75,000).
    In February, a small bomb was left on an empty subway train in Athens, which a far-left group fighting the austerity policies later claimed responsibility for.
    Growing public anger at the impact of the austerity measures was reflected in two parliamentary elections in May and June, in which parties opposed to the terms of the country's international bailout performed strongly.
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