A knife attack at the Acropolis archaeological site in Athens left two tourists injured on Tuesday morning, after a man reportedly attacked a couple near the entrance and threatened passersby.
The incident occurred shortly after 8:00 a.m., when visitors waiting at the ticket area were confronted by the suspect, who was carrying a knife. A passerby alerted emergency services, prompting an immediate police response.
According to witnesses, the man approached the couple and attacked the woman before her companion attempted to intervene. One eyewitness described the scene, saying the attacker “went to stab the woman” and that she was later seen lying on the ground with blood on her back.
Police officers from the Athens Police Directorate arrived at the site, secured the area and detained the suspect. The temporary security measures caused disruption for visitors at one of Greece’s most visited archaeological landmarks.
An ambulance from Greece’s emergency medical service, EKAB, transported the injured tourists to the Red Cross Hospital in Athens, where they received medical attention. According to initial information, both victims are out of danger. The woman suffered a thigh injury, while the man who tried to protect her was injured in the wrist.
Suspect known to authorities
The suspect, a Greek national reportedly born in 1966, is believed to have a history of previous encounters with law enforcement.
According to information provided after the incident, he was arrested in June 2026 following a complaint of verbal abuse, while in November 2019 he had also been arrested for carrying a knife. Authorities had conducted several identity checks involving the same person between 2019 and 2024.
Reports also indicate that the man may be homeless and that he has previously faced issues related to his mental health.
Witnesses describe panic at Acropolis entrance
Visitors at the site described moments of fear as people tried to move away from the area.
One witness, an Australian-born Greek woman who was visiting the Acropolis with her daughter, said visitors initially heard shouting while waiting to enter the archaeological site. She said people scattered after seeing the man with the knife approaching a woman.
She added that the police and emergency responders acted quickly, removing tourists from the ticket area until the situation was brought under control. Several witnesses later provided statements to authorities.
