A bomb detonated outside the headquarters of Hellenic Train on Syngrou Avenue in Athens at 9:35 PM on Friday, 11 April. Prior to the explosion, an anonymous caller warned the Efimerida ton Syntakton newspaper and the Zougla website that an explosive device had been planted and would go off in 35 minutes.

Police swiftly evacuated the area, but the bomb exploded before bomb disposal experts could neutralise it. No injuries were reported, though the explosion caused limited material damage.

Hellenic Train confirmed the incident in a statement, expressing relief that no one—neither employees nor passers-by—was harmed. The company condemned the attack and all forms of violence, stating: “Such acts have no place in society. We remain committed to dialogue, cooperation, solidarity, and justice.”

Greek political parties swiftly reacted. The ruling New Democracy party called the attack “reprehensible” and a threat to democratic stability, while the opposition SYRIZA also issued a strong condemnation, stating: “Justice is not served through violence. Such actions endanger innocent lives and distract from the real fight for accountability in the Tempi rail disaster.”

‘Revolutionary Class Self-Defence’ claims responsibility

Responsibility for the bombing was later claimed by the group Revolutionary Class Self-Defence via a post on the open, grassroots media platform Indymedia. In their communiqué, the group linked their attack to the 2023 Tempe train crash, which killed 57 people and for which they hold the government and Hellenic Train—owned by Italian state rail company Ferrovie dello Stato—primarily responsible.

The statement frames the Tempe train tragedy as a consequence of neoliberal and capitalist policies that prioritize private profit over public welfare. It refers to Greek state’s systematic dismantling of public infrastructure – through underfunding, privatisation, and deregulation – has handed essential services like the railway system over to private interests, with deadly consequences.

“The capitalist state thrives on blood,” the group declared, referencing massive protests on 26 January and 28 February 2025.

They argue that the workplace has become a “battlefield,” citing official data and independent estimates suggesting hundreds of workers have died or been seriously injured in recent years due to hazardous conditions, particularly among migrant and precarious workers.

The group’s statement concluded with the dedication of their actions to the Palestinian people and their heroic resistance.

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