Two Greek-American tourists were injured in a knife attack near the Acropolis in Athens on Tuesday morning after a man allegedly began threatening passers-by before launching the assault.
The attack occurred on the pedestrian street between the southern entrance to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, one of Greece’s busiest tourist areas. The victims, a man and a woman, were visiting the historic site when they were attacked.
The woman sustained minor injuries to her leg, while the man suffered more serious wounds to his arm and was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital by ambulance. Police reportedly applied a tourniquet to stem heavy bleeding.
Authorities quickly detained the alleged attacker, a 60-year-old man who police believe may have been experiencing psychological issues. Greek media reported he had been threatening other people with a knife before the attack, prompting a member of the public to alert police.
Despite the incident, the Acropolis and the nearby museum remained open to visitors, with police confirming there was no broader threat. Violent attacks of this nature are considered rare in Greece, particularly in one of the country’s most visited tourist destinations, which welcomed around 4.6 million visitors last year.