Authorities are working to unravel the mystery surrounding a bag containing narcotics and an improvised explosive device, following a midday explosion on Wednesday (October 21) at an apartment building in Kolonos, Athens, that left two police officers and two civilians injured. The investigation is focused on identifying who left the object in the building’s common area — and whether the device was intended for a specific target.
The combination of narcotics, a scale, and an explosive mechanism is the central element under scrutiny, as investigators explore a possible connection to drug trafficking activity. At the same time, based on current police assessments, the terrorism scenario is being ruled out — though the motives and circumstances behind how the bag ended up in the apartment building remain unclear.
Kolonos explosion: the booby-trapped bag theory
One of the scenarios under investigation is that the bag was deliberately booby-trapped, designed to injure whoever was meant to retrieve it. Police are examining whether its contents were linked to an illegal transaction and whether the explosive device was placed to harm someone attempting to access them.
However, authorities are also not ruling out the possibility that the bag was abandoned in the stairwell by someone who simply wanted to dispose of it. So far, investigators have not determined who brought the bag into the building, how long it had been there, or whether it was intended for one of the residents or an outside party.
The answers to these questions are considered critical, as they could reveal whether the explosion was connected to a targeted criminal act or to entirely different circumstances that have yet to be established.
What the bomb squad’s examination revealed
According to available information, the examination of the improvised device’s remains uncovered electronic components, including a circuit board, a battery, and an activation mechanism. Some of the components may have originated from an electronic appliance or a kitchen scale.
The exact composition and quantity of the explosive material have not yet been determined. According to the same sources, the casing had the capacity to hold up to approximately 500 grams of explosive material — however, initial assessments suggest the actual amount used was smaller.
The device appears to have been of limited power, but capable of causing serious injuries to anyone in close proximity. Specialists are currently analyzing its remains to determine how it was constructed and under what conditions it was triggered.
Bomb disposal officers also conducted checks throughout the rest of the apartment building and found no second suspicious object or additional explosive device.
How the explosion unfolded — officer undergoes surgery
The incident occurred at an apartment building on Platanos Street. At 2:32 p.m. on Wednesday, the building’s caretaker contacted the emergency services, reporting that he had discovered a bag containing a jar of narcotics and a scale.
Two police officers who were conducting a security patrol arrived at the scene and were led by the caretaker and another resident to the common area on the mezzanine floor, where the bag was located.
Approximately one hour later, at 3:30 p.m., the explosion occurred during the police inspection. According to initial reports, the sub-inspector examining the object apparently triggered the mechanism accidentally.
The officer bore the brunt of the blast and was transported to the 401 Military Hospital with burns and injuries to his face, eyes, hands, and legs. According to available information, he underwent surgery, though his life is not in danger.
The second officer and two civilians — including the building’s caretaker — sustained lighter injuries and were taken to Evangelismos Hospital.
Security cameras and the Greek FBI’s investigation
The preliminary investigation has been taken over by the Organized Crime Division, with the Homicide Unit also participating in the inquiry. An Anti-Terrorism Unit team initially responded to the scene but subsequently withdrew, as initial assessments found no indication of terrorist activity.
Officers are gathering witness statements and reviewing security camera footage from the surrounding area, with the aim of reconstructing the movements of individuals who had access to the building prior to the explosion.
The findings are simultaneously being examined by the Forensic Investigations Division, with laboratory analyses expected to help both identify any suspects and clarify the characteristics of the explosive device.
Whether the bag was part of an illegal transaction, whether it had a specific intended recipient, and what the true purpose of the device was — these are the questions investigators must now answer in order to unravel the case that left four people injured.
