A 51-year-old man was arrested on Sunday after attacking a fellow passenger on a bus in Koropi, southeast of Athens, with a screwdriver, before assaulting three police officers at the local police station.
Police were initially called to the scene following the bus attack, but the suspect had already fled. He then stormed into the Koropi police station, where he assaulted three officers, including the station sergeant, striking him on the head.
Officers of the DIAS rapid response unit arrived at the station and ordered the man to surrender. When he refused, a DIAS squad member, who also faced a screwdriver attack, fired a shot at the perpetrator’s legs to subdue him, according to police.
The injured bus passenger, police officers and the attacker were taken to a local clinic for treatment.
The perpetrator, a Greek citizen, has previously come to the attention of authorities for offenses including theft and insult, according to reports.
The motive behind the attacks remains unclear.
This story has been updated. [Kathimerini, AMNA]
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20243:56 PM UTCIn pictures: Wildfire outside Athens fanned by strong windsGreek firefighters and aircraft battled a blaze in the town of Koropi 19 miles (30 kilometres) south of Athens on Wednesday as strong winds fanned the flames and forced residents to flee their homes and businesses
[1/19]A firefighter uses a water hose to cool off the ground during a wildfire in Kitsi
[2/19]A local uses a bucket to extinguish flames from a wildfire burning in the town of Koropi
[3/19]Men drop water on a tree during a wildfire in Kitsi
[5/19]A local resident carries a bucket during a wildfire in Kitsi
[6/19]A firefighter uses a hose to cool off the ground during a wildfire in Kitsi
[8/19]A firefighter uses a hose to cool off the area next to a house burned during a wildfire in Kitsi
[9/19]A plane drops water during a wildfire in Kitsi
[10/19]A damaged vehicle is seen in an area burned during a wildfire in Kitsi
[11/19]Members of the media work next to a house burned during a wildfire in Kitsi
[12/19]A local resident uses a hose to cool off the ground during a wildfire in Kitsi
[13/19]Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning in Kitsi
[14/19]Destroyed boats are seen on a dry dock as firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning in the town of Koropi
[15/19]Local residents try to extinguish the fire on a burning tree during a wildfire in Kitsi
[16/19]A tree is burning during a wildfire in Kitsi
[17/19]A man walks in an area burned during a wildfire in Kitsi
[18/19]A house burned during a wildfire is seen in Kitsi
[19/19]A plane drops water as firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire near the town of Koropi
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According to authorities, the assailant had carefully planned the assault, as evidenced by a note found in his possession that read: “I will cause an incident on a bus, and when the police arrive
The assailant, already known to authorities, was recorded on a bus security camera as he stabbed a fellow passenger in a frenzied assault
“Two young men were sitting in the middle of the bus
and stabbed one with a screwdriver,” the bus driver recounted
fought back as the driver stopped the bus and called police and emergency services
The injured passenger was rushed to KAT Hospital for treatment
Reinforcements from the DIAS motorcycle unit and OPKE special forces arrived swiftly
When the suspect charged at a DIAS officer
By noon, the suspect—a local agricultural producer who also worked at farmers’ markets—was transported to KAT Hospital under DIAS escort
The injured officers were also hospitalised but are stable
The incident has raised concerns about public safety and the motives behind such violent acts
with investigations ongoing to uncover further details about the assailant’s background and intentions
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Renee Maltezou and Stelios Misinas; Editing by Edward McAllister
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Boehringer Ingelheim is undergoing a €120 million expansion of its facility in Koropi
to boost production of its blockbuster drug Jardiance
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of strategic investment status by the three Microsoft data centers
the next milestone for the 1-billion-euro investment is the start of construction of the facilities that will store the data and information trafficked through the internet
with the company proceeding to secure the required building permits for the data centers planned in the business parks of Spata and Koropi
The implementation of the investments has been undertaken by the Greek subsidiary of the American technology group Microsoft Operations 4733 Hellas
which recently published the financial statements for the first corporate year from August 3
whose object is the installation and operation of the three of data centers and the provision of related services
According to the financial report for its first corporate year
Microsoft Operations 4733 Hellas proceeded to purchase a plot worth €6.23 million
the location of which is not specified by the company
but it is certainly related to its planned investment in Greece
the Greek subsidiary of the multinational group bought two plots of land in the area of Voulia Prokalissi on Pikermiou Avenue with a total area of 50,700 square meters for €14 million
Some of the actions carried out by the company concern the signing
of an €8.1 million contract for the installation of a medium-voltage power station
one of the three data centers will be built on a total area of 85,000 sq.m
consisting of two plots of land in the Spata business park
will be implemented in the Koropi business park
while all of them will be in a functional relationship with each other
the three data centers are estimated to be completed by 2025
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German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim intends to implement an investment of 80 million euros in the next five years at its production unit in Koropi
aiming to turn its unit in Greece into a new and innovative drug production hub
Sources say that this investment will strengthen the Koropi plant with an emphasis on anti-diabetic drug production
The size and term of the firm’s new cycle of investment in Greece became known during a meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the multinational’s Chief Executive Officer Hubertus von Baumbach and other company officials
The German drugmaker has already implemented investment of another €80 million since 2008 at the Koropi unit
which is now able to export products to about 70 countries around the world
securing a market share of 2.2% among the country’s overall exports
The total annual value of Boehringer’s exports
is now expected to come close to €1 billion next year
Sources say the main incentive for this new investment has been a legal amendment for offsetting “clawback” payments to the state
also known as Digital Realty Hellas since its 2020 acquisition by US firm Digital Realty
is building and planning new enterprise data centers in the Athens suburb of Koropi
Digital Realty Hellas acquired a property next to Athens Campus
is expected to be operational by March 2023; the company recently acquired the permit to build ATH4
ATH1-4 will have a capacity of 31.1 megawatts
Digital Realty Hellas is also building a 6.5 MW data center
that will bring its total capacity to 37.6 MW
Outgoing chairman and CEO Apostolos Kakkos said that the investment will complete his personal vision of making Greece an important digital hub
“I am proud of the fact that Digital Realty has already become
the biggest data center services provider in Southeast Europe,” he said
the company will create a total added value in excess of €4 billion and that it will double its personnel over the next few years
will be succeeded at the end of the year by Alexandros Bechrakis
currently the Company’s Chief Commercial and Technology Officer
The high costs of construction and equipment seem to be the reason: construction of a data center costs about €10-15 per watt
The municipalities of Kropia and Megara in Attica are reacting to a report that two disused quarries in their jurisdictions will be used as sanitary landfills to manage the Greek capital’s waste
Kathimerini revealed on Tuesday that the quarries near the towns of Koropi and Megara
along with a facility under construction at Grammatiko
have been selected by Attica’s Solid Waste Management Authority (EDSNA) to replace Athens’s main landfill at Fyli
The European Commission has repeatedly fined Greece millions of euros over environmental violations at Fyli
ESDNA indirectly confirmed Kathimerini’s report
expressing surprise at the municipalities’ reaction and claiming the quarry sites had already been announced in 2003 and 2017 respectively
The Municipality of Kropia claims the Koropi site is too close to Athens International Airport (5.9 km) and the town of Koropi (1.2 km)
Work to expand the suburban railway (Proastiakos) to link Koropi in eastern Attica to Lavrio on the southeastern coast will begin in 2024
We have estimated five years as the construction period,” he said
the project for the extension of the suburban railway from Athens International Airport to Rafina was tendered in December 2021 and is expected to be contracted in 2023
Karamanlis said it will be completed by 2028
A video revealing what happened on a bus in Koropi on Sunday morning
involving a 51-year-old assailant who later stormed the local police station and injured three officers with a screwdriver
an altercation can be seen at the front of the bus as the 51-year-old attacks a man around 35 years old
the assailant struck the victim twice in the head and once in the neck
the 51-year-old is captured exiting the bus without showing any signs of distress
He is seen holding something in his hand and making his way toward the police station
located approximately 700 meters from the bus stop where the initial attack took place
“The perpetrator was sitting in the back seats when he saw his first victim preparing to exit at a stop.”
“At that moment, he walked toward the middle door, turned to the victim, and stabbed him twice in the head and once in the neck (the attack was carried out with a screwdriver),” the driver continued
the 51-year-old “didn’t say a word to his victims
I opened the doors to let the other two passengers out while I called the police and emergency services.”
When asked about the mental state of the 51-year-old
“He exited the bus as if he were just another passenger and walked the 700 meters to the police station.”
who is reportedly known to the authorities for previous incidents involving theft and verbal abuse
Initial reports suggest he suffers from psychiatric issues
Among the injured police officers was the head of the Koropi police station
who is believed to have sustained a more serious head injury
Police officers from the DIAS motorcycle unit quickly arrived at the scene and ordered the suspect to surrender
Early reports indicate that the DIAS officers shot the man in the leg to immobilize him
vice president of the Greek Police Federation (POASY)
“Our colleagues responded immediately
We were lucky that he was holding a screwdriver and not another weapon or firearm
Police stations need urgent reinforcements
Frontline services must be strengthened immediately.”
president of the Union of Police Officers of Southeastern Attica
every day proves that we go to work without knowing if we will return alive
Police stations in Southeastern Attica are operating with just 30% of their required personnel strength.”
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Musician Philippos Roussos tragically lost his life on Friday afternoon when the motorcycle he was riding overturned on Lavrio Avenue in Koropi
Reports indicate that a truck was involved in the accident
and his relatives are actively searching for witnesses to clarify the circumstances surrounding Philip’s death
as the truck driver left our Philippos bleeding,” the family stated
Famous guitarist Bob Katsionis shared a heartfelt post on Facebook
I don’t know how many of you knew Philippos Roussos (Phil Roussos/William Kane)
but he was a talented and kind soul who had been part of the underground scene for about a decade
working on some final additions to the song we were developing
He mentioned he was trying to recover from the fire that destroyed his house last August
and just yesterday… I received a call saying he is no longer with us
A truck hit his motorcycle AND LEFT HIM BEHIND
and after receiving some permission from a family member
I’m making this post to inform our mutual acquaintances and perhaps say a final goodbye to Philippos while listening to his last refrain
Sending strength to his family; I will post details about the ceremony here when I have them.”
“Sad news came last night as a very young and talented person has left us
The details from Bob Katsionis’ post about how the accident happened and the following circumstances are shocking
always in good spirits and eager for conversation
It’s hard to believe what I read last night—that he is no longer with us
A tragedy unfolded on the morning of Friday
as a 17-year-old lost his life in a fatal traffic accident
at the intersection of Georgiou Gorga and Anastasios Ntouni streets
The collision resulted in the death of the 17-year-old motorcycle rider
A fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon at the Karamolegos factory in Koropi
the factory is located on Hephaestou Street
where police have halted vehicular traffic
Firefighting efforts are being continuously reinforced
with 46 firefighters and 13 vehicles on site
water trucks from local authorities are providing support
next to the main factory and covered a large area
Firefighters are making efforts to prevent it from spreading to the main factory area
a Dutch manufacturer of full flight simulators
has confirmed that its newest training center will be located in Koropi
The facility in Koropi will be located within ten minutes of Athens International Airport (ATH) and will feature an Avion A320 Level D Full Flight Simulator
Construction work has already commenced and Avion expects to start training pilots there from August
meaning Greek airlines and approved training organizations no longer have to send their crew abroad for Airbus A320 flight training
The Avion A320 Full Flight Simulator features both Airbus Standard 2.0 CEO and NEO configurations
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and with energy savings of up to seventy percent
is one of the most sustainable full flight simulators available worldwide
the state-of-the-art facility will house briefing rooms
“Being able to train at your home base means huge savings on travel expenses,” said Erik Varwijk
“We are thrilled to open our Athens flight training center this summer and feel warmed by the support we have received.”
Source: Travel News Asia