Mexican Embassy shooting probed
Police investigating a suspected shooting at the building housing the Mexican Embassy in Kolonaki, central Athens, have determined that a hole discovered in a window of the building was made by a bullet fired from a long-barreled gun, probably a Kalashnikov-type assault rifle.
Officers drew the conclusion after submitting fragments of a bullet found at the scene to ballistics tests.
Officers found two holes in the building – one in a window on the fourth floor which accommodates a brokerage firm and another in the facade of the third floor where a clothing trading company has its offices.
Investigators believe that the Mexican Embassy, which has its offices on the fifth floor of the building, was the target of the shooting.
Police were called to the scene on Monday after employees of the brokerage firm saw the holes. According to police sources, the bullet that hit the fourth-floor window was likely fired on Sunday morning. Sources could not determine whether the mark on the third floor was made by a bullet or in some other way.
Police gave no indication Tuesday of who might be behind the shooting. One witness told police that two perpetrators approached the building on Sunday and left on a motorcycle. Another witness spoke of hearing two shots fired.
At the end of June, members of the Rouvikonas (Rubicon) anarchist group briefly occupied the offices of the Mexican Embassy. The group members were protesting alleged corruption and human rights violations in Mexico.
Rouvikonas, whose members vandalized the entrance to the Turkish Embassy last month, Tuesday published what it said was a confidential document sent by the Greek Foreign Ministry to the Citizens’ Protection Ministry, noting that the embassy had asked for the arrest and punishment of Rouvikonas members after the attack.
Last week a man believed to be a leading member of Rouvikonas was arrested and charged with vandalism and refusing to be fingerprinted. Sources indicated yesterday that the document had been part of the suspect’s case file.
