A strong bomb explosion targets a Greek prison guard's home and wounds 2
The target was Konstantinos Varsamis, president of the Greek association of prison guards. The device, containing about three kilograms of explosives, went off at 2:10 a.m. local time outside the entrance of his apartment building in Sykies, a suburb of Thessaloniki in northern Greece.
Varsamis, who lives on the first floor, was not hurt, police told Reuters. The explosion damaged three apartment blocks, shattering windows and bringing down a shared wall.
'I woke up because of the very loud bang of the explosion,' said 52-year-old Tzetno Kelo, who lives in a nearby building. 'Shattered glass from a window fell on my bed and I was covered in blood.' He was treated in hospital and later discharged.
A witness reported seeing a man walking along the street shortly before the explosion, police said.
Varsamis has worked for many years at Diavata prison, west of Thessaloniki, which holds members of organised crime groups and individuals convicted of terrorism.
Two police officers, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to comment on the investigation, told Reuters that authorities are focusing on possible involvement of criminal gangs rather than terrorist organisations. They added that Varsamis has already given a statement to investigators.
Greece's Organised Crime Unit is leading the investigation.
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