Greek anti-terrorism police are investigating a failed bomb attack targeting one of the country’s most prominent television journalists after a powerful homemade explosive device was discovered outside his Athens home, an incident that has drawn unanimous condemnation from across the political spectrum.
The device, consisting of five sticks of ammonium dynamite and a detonator, was found in a bag in the courtyard of journalist Giannis Pretenteris’s apartment building in the upscale Neo Psychiko neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon.
A gardener discovered the bag and alerted Mr. Pretenteris’s security detail, who then notified the police. Mr. Pretenteris, a veteran political commentator, was on his way to the Mega TV station for his nightly appearance on the main news broadcast at the time.
Bomb disposal experts who rushed to the scene determined that the detonator had been activated but failed to trigger the main explosive charge, likely due to a wiring error or faulty materials. They safely neutralized the device.
“This is not the first time this has happened to me; I hope it will be the last,” Mr. Pretenteris said later on his broadcast. “Trying to burn someone’s house down because you disagree with them is truly chilling in our democracy.”
The investigation is being led by the police directorate that handles domestic terrorism. Authorities are analyzing forensic evidence and reviewing surveillance footage to identify the perpetrators. No warning call was made before the device was discovered, and no group has claimed responsibility.