Greek govt condemns gun attack on Israeli embassy
The Greek government condemned on Friday as a "terrorist assault on democracy" a night-time gun attack on the Israeli embassy in Athens that saw the building sprayed with gunfire but no one hurt, AFP reported.
A gunman riding on the back of motorcycle raked the embassy with at least 54 rounds from a Kalashnikov rifle, police said, as it passed the building which sits on the corner of a busy road in the chic northern suburbs of the Greek capital.
Another two people on a second motorcycle were suspected of also taking part in the attack, which happened at 3:20 am (0120 GMT).
Public Order Minister Vassilis Kikilias, who visited the scene, told the Ana news agency, "No one is going to affect the relations between Greece and Israel."
Relations between the two have warmed considerably recently as tensions have risen between Israel and Turkey, once a close ally of the Jewish state.
"Every terrorist attack is an assault on democracy and the country," said government spokeswoman Sophia Voultepsi, who added the Athens was taking "determined steps" against terror groups.
Anti-terrorist police said first indications pointed to the far-left People's Fighter group as being responsible. They have been blamed for a series of similar attacks on embassies and the offices of the ruling conservative New Democracy party.