The 89-year-old gunman of Athens was arrested in a hotel in the port city of Patras, western Peloponnese, six hours after he shot at two locations in the Greek capital injuring four people.

According to state broadcaster ERT, the hotel was located next to the Intercity Bus Station (KTEL) and he was also in possession of a second weapon, a loaded .38 caliber revolver.

Mega TV Live News reported that it was a hotel employee who informed the authorities as she recognized him due to an official picture released earlier by the Greek Police.

On Tuesday morning the elderly gunman entered a social security office (EFKA) and the Court of Appeals, both in central Athens, and opened blindly fire injuring four employees. (More information HERE on KTG)

After the shooting he left for Patras on a taxi and he was reportedly planning to get onboard of a ferry to Italy.

The native of a village in Messinia, Peloponnese, had migrated and worked in Germany and Canada, but it is not clear so far, whether he could claim also a Greek pension. He had returned to Greece allegedly a decade ago and he was living in Kato Patisia district of Athens.

A pension that was never granted

Reason for the shooting motive appears to be that he was claiming a pension that was not granted to him though. He wad written about his struggle with institutions in the envelopes he left at the Court of Appeals before fleeing the scene.

He had allegedly also written that he was planning an attack at the European Parliament in Strasbourg – to which he would most likely travel by ferry to Italy and then by train.

According to latest media information, the elderly man had arranged an appointment with a taxi two days ago. He had a suitcase with him and left it in the taxi telling the driver he would pay him 200 euros to bring him to Patras. However, the taxi driver left with the suitcase he later handed over to police. Inside the suitcase was his passport and some document hinting to Strasbourg.

The perpetrator had previously caused tension at the EFKA office he attacked on Tuesday morning and had also sought a judicial decision that was issued not to his favor.

He was receiving a good pension from Canada.

The three envelopes and the role of his niece

According to his niece, the dispute over 400 unrecognized pension stamps had turned the elderly man’s life into a constant struggle with bureaucracy. The perpetrator had previously caused tension at the EFKA office he attacked on Tuesday morning.

His niece, immediately suspecting his involvement and was the one who notified the police, providing his ID and photo.

The 89-year-old appears to have organized his escape as he had made an appointment with a taxi driver two days before the incident.

Skilled in handling with weapons

The 89-year-old appears to have had excellent knowledge of the use of weapons. According to information, he had legally owned weapons in the past, which indicates familiarity with both their operation and handling.

The same information states that the possession of these weapons had been revoked and the weapons had been confiscated by the authorities, following his previous incarceration in a public psychiatric facility in 2018.

PS Note that the information is keep coming in fragmentary coming and there might be double info as the story is still developing