Two men were hospitalized with serious injuries after being attacked in a public park in Philopappos Hill, in what authorities believe was a retaliatory assault stemming from a previous dispute over a dog owner’s behavior.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning near the entrance opposite a residential housing area, when a man known in the neighborhood approached the victims—aged 59 and 60—while they were walking along a path with steps inside the park.

According to one of the victims, the suspect struck both men from behind using a collapsible metal object. The assault left them injured and requiring hospital treatment, with one of the victims needing stitches to his cheek.

Dispute dates back months

The attack appears to be connected to an earlier confrontation around Christmas, when the two men had confronted the suspect about his dogs, which he walked in the area but failed to clean up after them.

During that earlier encounter, the suspect had verbally abused the two men. On Sunday, he recognized them in the park and carried out the assault from behind.

Following the assault, the three men moved out of the park and onto the nearby road, where the argument continued. The suspect then fled the scene and is being sought after by authorities.