ATHENS, Greece (AP) — On Tuesday morning, a man assaulted two tourists near Athens’ historic Acropolis, Greece’s premier tourist destination, according to police reports.
The attacker targeted a man and a woman, both Greek Americans, with a knife on a pedestrian street close to the entrance of the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, situated at the base of the hill. The woman incurred minor injuries to her leg, while the man suffered more serious wounds to his arm, police stated.
Authorities apprehended the assailant at the scene, and both victims were transported to the hospital by ambulance. While the attacker’s identity wasn’t initially clear, police indicated he seemed to be experiencing psychological issues.
The incident did not result in any closures of the sites, which continued to operate normally. Reports from Greek media suggest the assailant had been menacing passers-by with a knife, prompting an alert to the police from a bystander.
Violent street incidents are uncommon in Greece. In April, an 89-year-old man was arrested after allegedly firing a shotgun in a social security office and a courthouse in central Athens, injuring at least four individuals over grievances related to social security.
The Acropolis hill, home to the nearly 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple and other historic monuments, draws millions of visitors annually. Last year, approximately 4.6 million people explored the site.
