Firebomb attacks on New Democracy officials in Thessaloniki: 'Strike against Democracy'
The president of the New Democracy Administrative Committee of Thessaloniki Z. Iokaimidis condemned the attacks with petrol bombs on the homes of three party officials.
Iokaimidis on SKAI: 'When someone throws petrol bombs, they intend to kill'
A firebomb attack with petrol bombs on the residences of three New Democracy officials in Thessaloniki was strongly condemned by the president of the New Democracy Administrative Committee of Thessaloniki, Zisis Iokaimidis, speaking to SKAI.
"Yesterday's criminal attack with petrol bombs on the homes of all three officials is not a strike against New Democracy, it is a strike against democracy itself," Iokaimidis stated, according to skai.gr. "And it is directed against every person who believes that differences are resolved through dialogue and not through violence," he added.
He revealed that the Counter-Terrorism Service has taken on the investigations. "As far as I have been informed, they are searching. And I think they are close to answers," he said, refusing to attribute the attack to a specific source.
Iokaimidis noted that neither he nor the other two officials had received threats prior to the attack. He recalled, however, that in the summer of 2023 similar attacks with paint had occurred, both on his own house and on the residence of former MP Savvas Anastasiades. "Paint is one thing and petrol bombs are another. When someone throws petrol bombs, it means they have a sinister purpose, that is to kill in the end. If someone had been passing by at that moment, what would have happened?" he asked.
Regarding the arrest of the perpetrators, he appeared optimistic, invoking statements made by the Prime Minister. "I think from the statements made by the Prime Minister, we will find them. We will find them and we will take them where they deserve, to Justice," he emphasised.
The president of the Administrative Committee described the moments of anguish experienced by his family during the attack. "Imagine, around 4:15 to 4:30, hearing a loud bang, going out onto the balcony and seeing smoke, with three children inside the house," he said. "Come to my political sphere, come to me personally. What fault do families have? What fault do small children have to be terrorised at that moment?" he concluded.
Iokaimidis also expressed his sorrow over the death of the mother of New Democracy MP Aphrodite Nestora, who died during the same period. "Unfortunately we had an unfortunate outcome: the mother of our friend Aphrodite Nestora passed away," he stated.
In closing, he emphasised that political disagreement and public dialogue constitute elements of democracy, but violence does not. "Acts of intimidation, violence and terrorism can have no place in public life," he concluded.
Source: Proto Thema