An arson attack that took place overnight at the Italian embassy in Athens destroyed a car used by a senior official, an incident that authorities in Greece and Italy strongly condemned Friday.
The embassy official was identified by Italian authorities as Susanna Schlein, a career diplomat and the sister of prominent Italian lawmaker Elly Schlein.
The Italian PM Giorgia Meloni expressed her “personal and national solidarity with the first counselor of the Italian Embassy in Athens, Susanna Schlein, and the profound worry that the attack may be of anarchic nature”.
Similarly, Deputy Minister Antonio Tajani said: “We are close to her and her family, I thanked our diplomats who have shown great seriousness and determination at this very difficult time.” “It’s a miracle she is alive,” he added.
Schlein herself said how “my family is still very shaken by the terrible risk we ran last night” but “now we must look ahead and not be afraid,” she she concluded.
While the reasons for the attack are still unknown, authorities suspect that it may be linked to the incarceration of the anarchist Alfredo Cospito. In recent days, there have been slogans, protests and signs outside of the Italian embassy in Athens in solidarity with Cospito.
The Greek and Italian police are collaborating in a massive effort to find the culprits.
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