Candidate's mother dies after terror attacks on New Democracy properties - EUROPE SAYS
A woman in her 70s has died after suffering extensive burns in a series of suspected arson attacks early on Wednesday (Greek time) targeting properties linked to officials of Greece’s governing conservative. . .
A woman in her 70s has died after suffering extensive burns in a series of suspected arson attacks early on Wednesday (Greek time) targeting properties linked to officials of Greece’s governing conservative New Democracy party in Thessaloniki. Vagia Nestora, the mother of New Democracy candidate Afroditi Nestora, died in the intensive care unit at Thessaloniki’s Ippokrateio Hospital. She had suffered burns to 80 per cent of her body and succumbed to multi-organ failure. The governing New Democracy party called on its supporters to take to the streets in protest. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his “deep” condolences to the Nestora family. “Her tragic end confirms the murderous and inhuman character of blind violence in public life,” the Greek prime minister said. “There can be no tolerance for blood[letting] … Terrorism must be banished where it belongs, to the margins. ”There has been no claim of responsibility for the attacks. Similar incidents in the past have been attributed to small far-left groups. The 72-year-old woman was the most seriously injured of five people hurt in the pre-dawn attack on the Nestora family home. New Democracy candidate Afroditi Nestora, her father and two other people also sustained burns. “Her tragic end confirms the murderous and inhuman character of blind violence in public life,” Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos MitsotakisTwo other coordinated attacks, using improvised gas canister bombs, targeted the homes of Zisis Ioakeimobits, president of New Democracy’s regional steering committee in Thessaloniki, and former lawmaker Savvas Anastasiadis. Mitsotakis travelled to Thessaloniki on Wednesday to visit the injured party officials and receive a briefing on the investigation. “I must express my shame and anger at the cowardly, terrorist, murderous attack,” he said. “There will be zero tolerance for any new form of terrorism. We have left these times behind us. ”Greece experienced decades of political violence, primarily from armed far-left organisations. During the country’s 2009–2018 financial crisis, far-right attacks linked to the Nazi-inspired Golden Dawn also emerged. The deadliest militant organisation was the far-left revolutionary group November 17, active from 1973 until its dismantling in 2002. Smaller far-left and anarchist groups that sought to continue their campaign have since been dismantled or have become inactive. Mitsotakis delivered a direct message to those responsible. “We will find you and deliver you to justice. ”Greek police said the counterterrorism unit has taken over the investigation in cooperation with local authorities. Initial findings indicate the perpetrators may have travelled by motorcycle and detonated three incendiary devices in quick succession.