- Title: GREECE: Witness describes attack on German ambassador's residence in Athens
- Date: 30th December 2013
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (FILE - FEBRUARY 6, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF GERMAN AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE SIGN ON AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE GERMAN FLAG PERSON WALKING UP STEPS TO GERMAN AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE ATHENS, GREECE (FILE - JUNE 10, 2013) (REUTERS) GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO GREECE, WOLFGANG DOLD (SECOND FROM LEFT), TALKING WITH OTHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO GR
- Embargoed: 14th January 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA9XULE0FWSLKPRH4THOKIZCU4F
- Story Text: The unidentified assailants who opened fire on the residence of the German ambassadorial residence in the Greek capital Athens consisted of four masked people, one of whom used a Kalashnikov gun to attack the building while the other three kept watch, a witness told Reuters Television on Monday (December 30).
In the attack seen as an attempt to sour relations between debt-laden Greece and its biggest creditor nation, at least 60 shots were fired in the air and four hit the metal gate of the walled, high-security residence which lies on a busy street of a northern suburb, according to police.
No one was hurt.
Forensic and anti-terrorism unit officers were seen working inside the cordoned off area outside the residence on Monday, with police vehicles blocking the street.
A neighbour and witness to the attack, Yannis Stefanidis, said he saw very clearly what happened from his balcony.
"I saw four people in front of me, masked, which seemed strange because I did not see any motorbikes or helmets anywhere. Four masked people? That was when the shooting began," he said.
"One of them was shooting, the other three were on the lookout. When the carnage ended the guy with the Kalashnikov turned and starting running towards Chiou Street, and the other three followed," he said.
Anti-German sentiment has grown during Greece's prolonged economic crisis and many of those struggling with record unemployment and falling living standards blame Germany's insistence on fiscal rigour for their economic woes.
Germany is the biggest single contributing nation to Greece's 240-billion-euro bailouts which have kept the country afloat since 2010 and saved it from bankruptcy.
No one has claimed responsibility for the 3.40 a.m. (0140 GMT) attack, which police believe was carried out by members of leftist guerrilla groups.
A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said at least two assailants on foot were involved.
The German Ambassdor to Greece, Wolfgang Dodd, who spoke to Reuters TV in June and was at home at the time of the incident, said earlier in a statement that the attack would not succeed in disrupting the close and friendly relations the two countries shared.
Increased security was visible on Monday at the German embassy in Athens.
The residence was the target of an attack in 1999, when members of the now dismantled extremist group November 17 fired a rocket-propelled grenade that hit its roof.
Pictures lampooning German Chancellor Angel Merkel are commonplace in Athens while groups opposing Greece's bailout frequently protest outside the German Embassy.
Public sector workers pelted a German diplomat with water bottles and coffee in a protest over austerity measures last year.
Monday's attack drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, with the anti-bailout opposition Syriza party saying it undermined Greece's struggle against austerity.
With a reputation for being Europe's problem child, Greece takes over the European Union presidency for six months from January 1, hoping to show how far it has come since it almost crashed out of the euro zone common currency bloc 18 months ago. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None