An employee who witnessed the shooting at Greece’s main social security agency, EFKA, has described moments of fear and confusion as gunfire erupted inside the building.

Speaking about the incident, the worker recalled how events unfolded rapidly when an armed 89-year-old man entered the premises and opened fire. “Everything happened in seconds. I saw the shotgun pass over a colleague’s head,” she said, describing the moment panic spread among staff.

According to her testimony, employees had little time to react. After hearing the first shot, workers rushed to take cover under desks. One colleague was injured in the leg during the incident.

“We saw the blood and couldn’t handle the image. We ran in different directions to save ourselves, fearing he would continue,” she said, highlighting the sense of terror that gripped the office.

The witness also questioned the level of security at the building, noting the absence of police presence. “There was no police protection, only private security. It’s possible he noticed the lack of a guard,” she said, calling for stronger safety measures.

She stressed that employees must be able to return to work feeling safe. “It is our duty to serve the public, but it is also the state’s responsibility to protect its workers,” she added.

The incident has triggered a strong reaction from the Panhellenic Federation of Employees of Social Policy Organizations, which announced a 24-hour nationwide strike. The union expressed support for the injured worker and condemned what it described as unsafe working conditions.

In a statement, the federation argued that such attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern linked to understaffed services and rising social pressure. It called for immediate hiring of permanent staff, improved security protocols, and better working conditions.

Workers are also demanding the end of precarious employment arrangements and measures to address economic hardship, including higher wages and pensions.