Two far-right suspects face attempted murder charges after knife attack in Elefsina
Two young men, aged 22 and 18, are facing attempted murder charges following a knife attack on a 32-year-old anti-fascist man in Elefsina, western Attica, according to Greek media reports. The suspects are alleged to have links to Propatria, a neo-Nazi group that has been described in previous reporting as connected to Greece’s far-right extremist scene.
The attack took place outside the victim’s home on October 8, 2026. Both suspects surrendered to authorities separately and have been charged with attempted murder committed jointly, as well as weapons-related offences, according to a report published by Efimerida ton Syntakton (Efsyn) on October 12.
Video footage made public after the incident appears to contradict one suspect’s claim that the victim attacked first. According to the report, one of the alleged attackers can be heard identifying himself as a fascist and urging the other to attack the victim.
The 32-year-old sustained serious injuries, including wounds to the leg involving the femoral artery, but was reported to be out of danger.
MASS ANTI-FASCIST MARCH HELD IN ELEFSINA
Thousands of people took part in an anti-fascist march in Elefsina on Saturday, October 10, following the attack. Demonstrators chanted slogans opposing fascism and neo-Nazism, while police maintained a strong presence throughout the march.
The demonstration brought together left-wing groups, trade unions, anti-fascist organisations and local residents. Among those attending were Magda Fyssa, the mother of murdered anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas, and Giannis Mangos, whose presence underscored the wider campaign against far-right violence in Greece.
A separate demonstration had taken place on Friday evening, organised by local branches of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and its youth organisation, KNE.
LAWYERS SAY VIDEO SUPPORTS VICTIM’S ACCOUNT
Lawyers representing the injured man said the attack bore the hallmarks of an ambush and was carried out with intent to kill. In a statement quoted by Efsyn, they said the victim had been approached outside his home after allegedly being followed and threatened.
According to the lawyers, three knife strikes were attempted, two of which caused injuries, while another left an abrasion on the victim’s abdomen. They said a passer-by intervened and helped the victim reach safety so he could receive first aid.
The lawyers also disputed a complaint filed by one of the suspects alleging that the victim had attacked him with a sharp object. They argued that the publicly released footage supported their client’s account. The allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings.
Both suspects appeared before an investigating magistrate and were given until Tuesday, October 13, to submit their statements, according to the report.
PRO PATRIA’S REPORTED LINKS TO NEO-NAZI NETWORKS
The incident has renewed attention on Propatria, which Efsyn describes as a neo-Nazi organisation with a history of alleged far-right violence. Previous reporting cited by the newspaper has linked members of the group to attacks on anti-fascist activists and to individuals associated with Golden Dawn, the Greek neo-Nazi organisation whose leadership was convicted in a landmark criminal trial.
The newspaper also recalled a violent attack against the anti-racist organisation KEERFA in Neo Irakleio in October 2021, in which individuals linked to far-right circles were identified by investigators.
The precise organisational relationship between Propatria and Golden Dawn should be distinguished from the reported associations of individual members. The current case concerns allegations against two suspects, and the charges do not in themselves establish guilt.
POLITICAL FIGURES AND ANTI-FASCIST GROUPS RESPOND
Magda Fyssa visited the injured man at Tzaneio Hospital on Saturday. She said far-right attacks had continued in the 13 years since her son Pavlos was murdered, adding that Greece had narrowly avoided another fatality.
Gabriel Sakellaridis, head of the New Left party, also visited the victim and said the attack recalled the pattern of violence associated with the Pavlos Fyssas murder.
Representatives of anti-fascist groups warned that the incident highlighted the need to prevent neo-Nazi ideology from gaining renewed influence, particularly among young people. Their statements linked the attack to broader concerns about far-right mobilisation and hate-motivated violence in Greece.
The Racist Violence Recording Network has also documented other reported incidents of far-right and racist violence in the country this year, including assaults and intimidation targeting migrants and LGBTQ+ people, according to the report.
The investigation into the Elefsina attack is continuing, with the two suspects awaiting further judicial proceedings.
