A knife attack near the Acropolis in Athens left two visitors injured on Tuesday morning.
The victims, a 53‑year‑old man and a 48‑year‑old woman, were described by police as a Greek‑American couple walking along a pedestrian street close to the Acropolis Museum and a site entrance when the assault occurred shortly after 8 a.m.
Police said the man sustained a serious arm wound that required a tourniquet before he was transported to a nearby hospital. The woman suffered a less severe leg injury, and neither injury was considered life‑threatening.
The attacker, a 60‑year‑old Greek man, was detained at the scene and is expected to appear before a prosecutor later in the day to face formal charges.
Authorities have not identified a motive for the stabbing, though the suspect appeared to be experiencing psychological problems.
Witnesses reported that the assailant had been brandishing a knife and threatening people before the attack, prompting a bystander to call emergency services.
The violence unfolded just after the Acropolis opened for the day, a time when early‑morning visitors often seek to avoid the intense midday heat on the hilltop.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes the Parthenon and other ancient monuments, attracts millions of tourists annually and is one of Greece’s most popular attractions.
Greece is currently experiencing its first major heat wave of the season, with temperatures in Athens forecast to reach around 100 degrees.
Despite the incident, authorities kept the Acropolis and the adjacent museum open, and both continued operating normally throughout the day.
Victim identities and the specific charges the suspect will face have not been released.
