Man stabs tourists near the Acropolis in Athens, Greece - AP News

What the report says

The Associated Press reported that a man stabbed and wounded two tourists on Tuesday morning near the Acropolis in Athens, Greece’s most visited archaeological landmark. Police said the victims were a Greek American couple attacked with a knife on a pedestrian street close to an entrance to the Acropolis site and the Acropolis Museum, at the foot of the hill.

According to AP, the man, identified by authorities only as a 60-year-old Greek national, was detained at the scene. Police said the 53-year-old male victim sustained a serious arm injury that required a tourniquet, while the 48-year-old woman was less seriously wounded in the leg. Both were taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, and their injuries were not reported to be life-threatening.

Authorities said the suspect was expected to appear before a prosecutor later Tuesday for formal charges. Police did not release more identifying information, consistent with Greek law on suspects. The motive was not immediately known, though police said the attacker appeared to have psychological problems. AP also cited Greek media reports that the man had allegedly been threatening passersby at random before the attack, and that police were alerted by a member of the public.

The attack happened shortly after 8 a.m. local time, around the opening of the ancient site, but AP reported that the Acropolis and nearby sites continued operating normally. The incident occurred during Greece’s first heat wave of the summer, when many visitors arrive early to avoid midday temperatures. The Acropolis, home to the Parthenon and other ancient monuments, drew about 4.6 million visitors last year, according to AP.