An 89-year-old man opened fire inside a social security office in central Athens and later at a courthouse, injuring five people. According to his own statements, the incident was driven by a long-running dispute over his pension and a sense of injustice.

The shootings unfolded on Monday at an office of Greece’s main social security body, EFKA, in the Kerameikos area of Athens. Five people were injured, including employees and members of the public, inside the building at the time. None of the injuries was reported as life-threatening. The suspect fled the scene and later appeared at a courthouse, where he again discharged his weapon. He was subsequently arrested in the city of Patras following a police operation.

In statements after his arrest, the man said he did not intend to kill. “I did not want to kill, but to make a statement because I cannot find justice,” he reportedly told authorities, describing his actions as an attempt to draw attention to his case.

His motives were also described in a letter he is said to have written prior to the attack. In that text, he described his anger and frustration, portraying himself as pushed to the limit after years of unresolved dispute with the Greek authorities. He suggested that he felt ignored by institutions and spoke of a desire to force those he held responsible to confront his situation.

Medical staff who treated the injured said the victims sustained a range of wounds consistent with gunfire but were in stable condition. Police recovered the weapon used in the attacks and are examining whether it was legally owned. The man remains in custody as the investigation continues.

In his letter to the press, the 89-year-old said he lived abroad for most of his life and received pensions in the United States and Germany, adding that “America granted me a pension in two months” and that his “mixed German pension” was issued within six months. By contrast, he described prolonged difficulties once his Greek social security documents were forwarded to Greece, writing that “from the moment they went to Greece, the big problems began with the Greek IKA and the Greek courts”.

In the same letter, he described his treatment by Greek institutions, alleging misconduct and verbal abuse during an encounter with officials. He wrote that public services and the courts had treated him “like a stray dog, to be kicked and beaten”, adding that he felt pushed to breaking point after years of unresolved grievances. The letter closes with an explicit expression of anger and intent, in which he describes himself as “rabid” and warns that he would go to the offices and “bite them, so that they become rabid too”.

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