In the forensic laboratories of EL.AS. the explosive device that was sent with a file to the office of the president of appeals in the courts of Thessaloniki was transferred for examination, while the cases handled by the particular judicial officer are passed through the “sieve” of the prosecuting authorities, in an attempt to identify its sender. The Anti-Terrorist Service which took over the investigations is examining any similarities in the wiring and the explosive material used in earlier cases.

The explosive found in the envelope was – reportedly – gelato dynamite and its quantity was capable of causing a powerful explosion with casualties. The trapped file reportedly arrived 10 days ago by mail on the third floor of the city’s courthouse, where the office of the president of appeals is housed. The Union of Judges and Prosecutors was falsely listed as the sender.

Just today and after a few days’ leave, the receiving judicial officer took the disputed file in her hands, initially assuming that it contained a calendar of the Union. However, the content aroused her suspicions and consulting a person in her intimate environment – which seems to have turned out to be a lifesaver – he did not open the file, handing it over for investigation.

A police guard took the suspect file to the X-RAY machine on the ground floor of the courthouse, where it was found to be an explosive material. The authorities were immediately alerted and at around 2 pm it was decided to evacuate the building, with a parallel blockade of the surrounding area.

A team of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department (EED) rushed to the scene with a specially trained dog, as well as the director of the Thessaloniki Security. Finally, the explosive device was deactivated by EL.AS pyrotechnicians.

The bomb that went off in 2010

The case brought back memories of the bombing that had taken place on May 14, 2010, in the courts of Thessaloniki. It was 1.30 in the afternoon when an explosive device detonated in the public toilets located in the semi-basement. A bailiff was injured by the powerful explosion, while significant damage was caused to the interior of the building. There had been two warning phone calls, one to a newspaper office and the other to a television station.

After the “hit” – for which there was no claim of responsibility – security measures were strengthened at the city’s courts, most notably the installation of X-RAY detection machines at the main entrance of the building and the implementation of screening rules.

Of course, there were not a few times that “pranksters” warned of the placement of a bomb – probably in an attempt to cause a trial to be aborted – however, causing the palace to be evacuated based on a relevant plan drawn up after the 2010 explosion.