Rubio Cites Fatal Greece Firebombing as He Urges Global Action Against Far-Left Terrorism
by Bill Giannopoulos · Greek City TimesUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio has referenced the recent fatal firebombing attack on the home of a Greek politician’s family as he called on more than 60 countries to strengthen efforts against what he described as a resurgence of far-left political terrorism.
Speaking at the opening of a State Department summit on Thursday, Rubio highlighted the attack earlier this month in Thessaloniki, in which Vagia Nestora, the 72-year-old mother of New Democracy parliamentary candidate Afroditi Nestora, suffered severe burns and later died.
“Two weeks ago a 72-year-old woman was burned on over 80 percent of her body in her own home in Greece and she died, executed by a fire bomb because her daughter dared to stand for office,” Rubio said.
The Secretary of State argued that governments had for too long overlooked the growing threat of transnational far-left extremist violence. He described radical leftism as “a poisonous resentment cloaked in the language of equality and justice.”
“Today we face a new wave of this old evil here in the United States: the share of left-wing terrorist attacks and plots has risen to levels not seen in decades,” he added. “It is time to crush this evil forever.”
Greek authorities have assigned the investigation to the anti-terrorism unit. Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack, which also injured Afroditi Nestora, her father, and two other residents.
Authorities said attackers also placed flaming gas canisters outside the homes of two other local New Democracy officials the same night. No group has claimed responsibility.
The incident marked the first time in more than a decade that a person was killed in an assault targeting politicians in Greece.
Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.