A 67-year-old man who stormed a bank branch in central Thessaloniki with a hammer has been ordered held in pretrial detention.
The incident occurred Monday and caused panic among bank employees and customers inside the branch. Prosecutors filed charges of attempted robbery and illegal possession of weapons, as he was also carrying a screwdriver and a pair of scissors.
Testifying before aThessaloniki investigating magistrate, the man reportedly said he did not intend to harm anyone. He said he went to the bank to demand payment of “the full amount of his pension.”
Through his attorney, he also requested a psychiatric evaluation to determine his criminal culpability. According to reports, the man has a history of mental health problems, while he has received treatment and is under a form of court-ordered stewardship.
His lawyer said that, depending on the results of the psychiatric assessment, he could be transferred to the psychiatric unit of an Athens-area prison.
