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Knife attack near Acropolis
A man armed with a knife attacked two American visitors near the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, shortly after 8 a.m. local time Tuesday, and police detained the suspect at the scene.
“shortly after 8 a.m. local time Tuesday”
Fox News reported the victims were a 53-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman described by police as a Greek American couple, with the man suffering a serious arm injury that required a tourniquet before being taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital.
ABC News said the incident occurred at approximately 8:05 a.m., just after the Acropolis Museum’s opening, and that the assailant stabbed the couple before law enforcement arrived.
ABC News also said police took a 60-year-old suspect into custody, while the rapid-response unit within the Hellenic Police and the Athens Police Directorate immobilized and disarmed him on the scene.
Witnesses and police response
Before the stabbing, an individual brandishing a knife outside the museum’s entrance was threatening pedestrians, prompting a bystander to place an emergency call, ABC News said.
ABC News described the male victim’s injuries as severe blood loss that required urgent care, while the female victim suffered minor injuries to her hands and legs and both were reported to be in stable condition.
USA Today quoted visitor Tracey Dewey saying, "We just heard people screaming and a crowd running away, so we obviously took cover," as the attack unfolded.
USA Today also reported that police said the victims "were offered medical aid" and that their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, while the suspect was previously hospitalized "on mental health grounds" and previously arrested for allegedly possessing a knife.
What happens next
Greek authorities did not close the Acropolis or the nearby museum, and both continued operating as normal throughout the day, Fox News reported.
“Authorities have not identified a motive for the stabbing”
Fox News said the suspect was expected to appear before a prosecutor Tuesday to face formal charges, while authorities had not identified a motive for the stabbing.
ABC News said police had taken the suspect into custody and that an ambulance and rapid-response paramedic motorcycle unit responded to provide emergency medical aid.
In the background of the investigation, Fox News reported that police said the suspect appeared to be suffering from psychological problems, and Greek media reported he had been brandishing a knife and threatening people before the attack.
