Greek police responded quickly after an anonymous warning about the bomb outside the Hellenic Train office in Athens. Credit : Shutterstock, Tsuguliev
A bomb went off outside the offices of Hellenic Train — Greece’s main railway company — in central Athens on Friday evening, shaking the area but leaving no one injured.
The explosion, which happened on Syngrou Avenue, not far from cafés, bars and restaurants, has added fuel to the fire of public frustration still simmering after the tragic rail disaster in Tempi, which claimed 57 lives.
Anonymous call warned police before Athens blast
According to local media, the blast wasn’t entirely unexpected. Around 40 minutes before it happened, an anonymous caller rang both a newspaper and a news site, warning that a bomb had been planted near the building.
Police quickly moved in, cordoning off the area and keeping passers-by and nearby businesses at a safe distance. Officers later confirmed that a bag containing an explosive device had been found outside the Hellenic Train offices.
Although the explosion did go off, no one was hurt, thanks in part to the rapid response. The scene was eerily quiet afterwards — just flashing lights, scattered debris, and the growing tension of a city that’s still asking hard questions.
Greece’s deadliest train crash still haunts the nation
It’s impossible to ignore the timing. The explosion came just weeks after the second anniversary of the 2023 Tempi crash, Greece’s worst-ever rail disaster. That collision — which happened when a freight train and a passenger train were mistakenly routed onto the same track — killed dozens, most of them young people heading back to university after a holiday.
Since then, public trust in the rail system has taken a huge hit. Many still blame authorities for poor infrastructure, lack of safety upgrades, and political buck-passing. The pain from Tempi hasn’t faded — and for some, Friday night’s blast is a grim reflection of how raw those wounds still are.
No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing so far, but it’s clear that emotions are still running high.
The Greek government has yet to issue a detailed statement, and investigations are underway. Meanwhile, residents are left wondering what’s coming next — and whether the lessons of Tempi have really been learned.
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