A 72-year-old woman died on Wednesday from severe burns and respiratory complications following a series of suspected coordinated terror attacks targeting politicians from the governing New Democracy (ND) party in Thessaloniki.
The victim, identified as Vagia Nestora, was the mother of ND political candidate Aphrodite Nestora. She had been fighting for her life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Ippokrateio Hospital. Aphrodite Nestora is currently being treated in a surgical ward, while her husband (the candidate’s father) remains hospitalized with mild respiratory issues in a pulmonary clinic.
Coordinated Terror Attacks Target ND Officials
The tragedy unfolded when unidentified assailants on motorcycles deployed improvised incendiary devices, made from gas canisters, at the entrances of three apartment buildings linked to current or former officials of the ruling New Democracy party.
The third and fatal attack occurred at the intersection of Kimonos Voga and Gravias Street in Thessaloniki’s Harilaou district. The resulting explosion ignited a violent fire that quickly engulfed two cars and two motorcycles, trapping the victims.
The Greek Police Counter-Terrorism Unit has officially taken charge of the ongoing investigation. According to reports, they have focused their investigation on a core group of 30 anarchists in Thessaloniki. They suspect that the perpetrators behind the fatal attacks are directly linked to two specific former squats: “Biologiko” and “Libertatia,” two of the oldest and most prominent anarchist squats in Thessaloniki until they were sequentially cleared and dismantled by Hellenic Police forces starting in 2021.
Political Leadership Responds with Unified Condemnation
The suspected terrorist attacks have drawn fierce, unanimous condemnation from across Greece’s political spectrum.
“The tragic death of Vagia Nestora confirms the murderous and inhuman nature of blind violence in public life. Nobody can remain passive anymore or limit themselves to hypocritical condemnation,” Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.
“There must be zero tolerance for bloodshed and the polarization of extremes! The State’s legality and society’s unity must relegate terrorism to the margins where it belongs, letting the light of the many dispel the darkness of the few.”
Leader of main opposition PASOK, Nikos Androulakis expressed deep sorrow over the loss, conveying his heartfelt condolences to the Nestora family. He stressed that the perpetrators must be swiftly identified, brought to justice, and severely punished, adding, “In a democratic society governed by the rule of law, there can be absolutely no tolerance for such criminal acts.”
The President of the Hellenic Republic Constantine Tassoulas said: “The incendiary attacks in Thessaloniki are not only violent and terrorist—they are deadly and murderous. Vagia Nestora was the innocent victim of a criminal act clearly intended to claim lives. The political identity of the targets in this triple assault cannot be overlooked. We must not allow political violence to continue to claim lives, injure citizens, and threaten our democratic stability.”
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