A hand grenade, wrapped with adhesive tape, as shown in the photograph below, was carried by a 48-year-old Sudanese man, known to authorities for drug-related cases, who attempted yesterday, Friday (06/03), to enter the Police Headquarters building of Athens Police, on Alexandras Avenue.
See photograph:
Timeline of the 48-year-old Sudanese man’s attempted entry to Athens police HQ
It is recalled that the 48-year-old attempted to enter the Athens Police headquarters and when the guard stopped him and asked what he wanted, he said he wanted to enter the building. When the guard, according to information, told him this wasn’t simply possible because he appeared suspicious and disturbed, the perpetrator then told him he had explosives on him.
The guard immediately called for reinforcements and the area was cordoned off. The man persistently demanded to be given a phone, while continuously holding in his hand an object that resembled a hand grenade. At intervals he would place it between his legs and then pick it up again in his hands, having it wrapped with adhesive tape. This gave police officers more time to react, as they determined it remained secured with the pin. At the same time he had placed at his feet a container inside which there were two more hand grenades. The police managed to distract his attention with the phone he was requesting, pretending they would satisfy his demand, and then found the opportunity to immobilize and arrest him.
They left the grenades outside and called bomb disposal experts from the Special Forces who determined that two of them (those in the container) were indeed defensive hand grenades. They closed the road again and carried out a controlled explosion. As it turned out, the grenades were oxidized, of Czech origin, but functional and well-secured.
Official police statement
The General Police Directorate of Attica announces that at approximately 6:00 PM (yesterday, Friday 06/03) a 48-year-old foreign national approached, moving from Alexandras Avenue, the police guard in front of the entrance to the Athens Police Headquarters building, carrying a bag and wearing a backpack, and told the police guard that he had explosives in his possession. Police forces from Athens Police HQ and after mobilization of the Operational Coordination Center, at approximately 6:25 PM, the 48-year-old was disarmed and immobilized, while the relevant bomb disposal unit immediately arrived at the scene. The bomb disposal team collected 2 defensive-type hand grenades, while the backpack carried by the 48-year-old underwent a controlled explosion without discovering other findings. After his detention, the 48-year-old was taken to the Anti-Racist and Extremist Violence Unit/Athens Police HQ, where he is being questioned
