Foreign Ministry condemns arson attack on Turkish diplomatic vehicle

The Greek Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned as "unacceptable and irresponsible" an attack by unknown arsonists on a vehicle belonging to Turkey's diplomatic mission in Thessaloniki in the early hours of the morning.

Unidentified arsonists doused three vehicles with petrol before torching them shortly before 5 a.m., one of which was used by the Turkish Consulate. No one has claimed responsibility for the incident. 

"We condemn in the most unequivocal manner the arson attacks that were carried out today in Thessaloniki, which caused damages to the vehicles of an employee of the Turkish consulate and a Turkish employee of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, as well as to other nearby private vehicles," the ministry said in a statement.

"Such unacceptable and irresponsible acts go against the values and principles that govern Greek political culture and will not achieve their goal."

The fire service was dispatched to the scene but one of the cars was completely destroyed while the other two sustained serious damage. There were no reports of any injuries.

The ministry said the arsonists will be brought to justice and Greece's National Security Service has launched an investigation.

The attacks come in the wake of a spike in Turkish rhetoric over sovereign rights in the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean.