Arsonists destroyed a car used by a senior Italian diplomat in Athens, prompting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to express “deep concern”.
Italian officials said the official at the Italian embassy is Susanna Schlein, a career diplomat and sister of prominent Italian lawmaker Elie Schlein.
A car was destroyed, while a second vehicle suffered limited damage, when an improvised incendiary device exploded in the garage of a diplomat’s home in a northern suburb of Athens on Friday morning. No one was hurt in the incident.
Meloni offered solidarity to the officer and expressed “deep concern” and “sympathy”. “The attack was probably anarchist in origin,” he said in a statement.
“I am giving this matter my full attention,” Meloni said.
there was an attack condemned by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. “I called Susanna Schlein to express my solidarity,” he tweeted.
Tajani, who arrived in the Greek capital on Friday for a gathering of the European People’s Party, said he would meet Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and visit the Italian embassy.
So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. It follows protests by Greek anarchist groups in support of jailed Italian anarchist militant Alfredo Cospito, who is on hunger strike in protest of prison conditions.
Greece’s foreign ministry condemned the attack. “This unacceptable and reprehensible action will in no way spoil the excellent relations and long-standing bonds of friendship between Greece and its partner and ally Italy,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was awaiting the results of a “thorough police investigation” and expressed its full solidarity and support to its colleague.