Knife attack on anti-fascist in Eleusis: two far-right individuals identified
Authorities identified two young men, aged 22 and 18, in connection with the stabbing of a 32-year-old on Konstantinoupolis Street. The victim is hospitalised at Tzaneio Hospital in stable condition.
Identification of two suspects in Eleusis stabbing
According to Ethnos, authorities have identified two young far-right individuals, aged 22 and 18, as perpetrators of the attack against a 32-year-old anti-fascist in Eleusis. The two suspects, who are already known to authorities for illegal possession of weapons — specifically knives — are currently being sought by police.
The attack on Konstantinoupolis Street
The attack took place shortly after 4 p.m. on Thursday. Two individuals with covered faces approached the 32-year-old on Konstantinoupolis Street, threatened him and then stabbed him at least twice in the thigh. The injured man fell to the ground covered in blood, while the perpetrators fled.
The victim was initially taken by private means to Eleusis Health Centre, but the severity of the wounds to his legs necessitated transfer by EKAV ambulance to Tzaneio Hospital in Piraeus. He is hospitalised in stable condition, but with serious injuries.
Authorities see political background
Police officers believe the attack has a political background. The perpetrators are known far-right individuals operating in the wider Eleusis area, whilst the victim belongs to the broader left-wing sphere.
According to ERT, the 32-year-old stated that before being stabbed, the perpetrators told him: "We're in charge here." He told police officers that they told him they attacked him because he had "posted" photographs of them, adding that they had confused him with another person and that he has no involvement in these accusations.
Possible connection to August clash
Police are investigating the possibility that the attack is connected to a clash that occurred in August in Eleusis between groups of far-right and anti-fascist individuals. Following that incident, anti-authoritarian activists published details and photographs of people who had attacked their group on their website. According to statements, the perpetrators cited this publication as the reason for yesterday's attack.
Reactions from left-wing parties
Gabriel Sakellardis, leader of the New Left party, posted on his personal Facebook account regarding the attack. "We should not tolerate neo-Nazi filth either in Eleusis or anywhere else," he wrote characteristically.
Sakellardis also criticised the police's stance, pointing out that the first information leaked to the media cited "robbery" as the motive for the attack, despite the victim being a known anti-fascist and the perpetrators being known fascists in the area. He drew parallels between these leaks and initial statements by the Greek police during the murder of Pavlos Fyssas, "when they said it was an 'incident involving football fans'". He called for "immediate arrest of the perpetrators and their referral to justice".
SYRIZA also condemned the attack, characterising the incident as "extremely serious" and stating that it brings to mind "previous cases with much worse outcomes, such as the murders of Shehzat Lukman and anti-fascist musician Pavlos Fyssas". "We should not allow space for the return of Golden Dawn 'assault squads' and neo-Nazi criminals," the party emphasised.
Source: Ethnos