A 48-year-old Sudanese man was taken to the former Evelpidon Courthouse in Athens on the morning of March 10, 2026, following an alarming incident outside the General Police Directorate of Attica (GADA). He is scheduled to appear before the investigating magistrate to provide his account of the events.
The incident occurred the previous Friday afternoon, when the man approached the police headquarters on Alexandras Avenue carrying a backpack containing hand grenades stored in sealed containers. In an apparent state of agitation, he threatened officers with the explosives before police successfully immobilized him.
During the preliminary investigation, the suspect reportedly claimed that he had found the grenades in a public grove near the Acropolis while scavenging for items he could sell to buy drugs. Authorities confirmed that the grenades are functional and of Czech manufacture.
Police records indicate that the man has a history of drug-related offenses and illegal weapons possession. He had been arrested multiple times for drugs, weapons violations, and theft, including a prior detention at Korydallos Prison. He had been released just days before the recent incident.
The General Police Directorate of Attica stated that at around 18:00 local time, the suspect approached a security post with a bag and backpack, declaring he possessed explosives. GADA units, coordinated by the Operational Coordination Center, disarmed and secured him by 18:25. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team recovered two defensive-type hand grenades.
Authorities conducted a controlled detonation of the suspect’s backpack, which revealed no additional threats. The man was then transferred to the Subdivision for Combating Racist and Extremist Violence for further questioning.
Traffic on Alexandras Avenue was temporarily suspended during the operation, and the area was cordoned off until the controlled detonation and subsequent police investigations were completed.
