A shop employee narrowly escaped serious injury after a woman threw hydrochloric acid in her face during a botched jewelry theft in this northeastern city, police said Thursday.
The 43-year-old suspect was arrested minutes after the Tuesday afternoon attack on Hermou Street. Authorities allege the woman entered a clothing and accessories store and attempted to conceal several pieces of jewelry in her bag. When the 25-year-old clerk confronted her, the suspect pulled a bottle of acid from her handbag and sprayed it at the employee’s face.
Officers from the Railway Police motorcycle unit tracked the suspect to a central Komotini street shortly after the incident. A search revealed a bottle of hydrochloric acid, a folding knife with a 5.5-centimeter blade, two sedative tablets, and the stolen jewelry.
The victim, whose face and eyes suffered chemical burns, was treated at a local hospital and subsequently released.
Police have charged the suspect with robbery, weapons violations, and drug possession. She is scheduled to appear before a public prosecutor.
The violent episode comes during a period of heightened security in Thrace, where the government has intensified efforts to dismantle trafficking networks and street-level crime. Officials have pledged that local policing will remain aggressive, while opposition parties argue for increased focus on social prevention programs.