Four injured in booby-trapped explosion in Kolonos, Athens

On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 21, 2026, an explosion occurred at a residential building on Platonos Street in the Kolonos district of Athens. The incident was triggered when police arrived to investigate a reported bag containing narcotics, which had initially been discovered by the building's manager. As officers examined the package, an improvised explosive device concealed within it detonated. The blast resulted in injuries to four individuals: two police officers and two civilians. One officer sustained more serious head injuries and required surgery at the 401 General Military Hospital, while the three others were transported to Evangelismos Hospital with lighter wounds from debris.

Authorities, including the Organized Crime Division, are currently investigating the incident as a criminal matter linked to drug trafficking, evaluating theories that the device was intended as a trap for law enforcement or a mechanism to secure illegal goods. The area was cordoned off immediately by police and fire services, who deployed 18 personnel and six vehicles to the scene. Investigators are now analyzing security footage and physical evidence, including a precision scale found in the bag, to identify those responsible for leaving the explosive package. No suspects have been identified yet, and the investigation remains ongoing.