Two Greek American tourists stabbed near Acropolis in Athens
Greek police said a man with a knife attacked a man and woman near the Acropolis Museum before being detained.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
2 min read
A man and woman identified by police as Greek American tourists were stabbed Tuesday morning near the Acropolis in Athens, Greek authorities said.
The knife attack happened near the entrance to the Acropolis Museum, which sits at the base of the Acropolis hill, police said. The hill is home to the Parthenon and is Greece’s best-known tourist draw.
Police said the woman suffered minor injuries to one leg. The man was more seriously wounded, with injuries to an arm, according to authorities.
Both victims were taken from the scene by ambulance to a hospital, authorities said. Police did not immediately release further details about their conditions.
The alleged attacker was detained after the incident, police said. His identity was not immediately clear.
Police said the man appeared to have been suffering from psychological problems. Authorities did not immediately provide more information about a possible motive.
Attack near one of Greece’s busiest sites
The Acropolis is one of the most visited landmarks in Europe and draws millions of people each year. The ancient hilltop site includes the nearly 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple along with other monuments.
About 4.6 million people visited the Acropolis last year, according to the reported figures. The Acropolis Museum, near where police said the stabbing took place, stands at the foot of the hill and is a major stop for visitors to Athens.
Violent street attacks are rare in Greece, according to CBS News. The stabbing happened in one of the capital’s most recognizable tourist areas, a district usually packed with visitors heading between the museum, the hill and surrounding central Athens streets.
Recent Athens violence
The case follows another rare violent incident in central Athens earlier this year. In April, authorities arrested an 89-year-old man who allegedly opened fire with a shotgun in a social security office and a courthouse, CBS News reported.
At least four people were wounded in that shooting, which was reportedly connected to social security grievances, according to the report.
Police have not announced whether any charges have been filed in Tuesday’s stabbing near the Acropolis Museum. Authorities also did not immediately identify the detained man or release the names of the injured tourists.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.