Greek passengers held at gunpoint
Source: bbc.co.uk


There have been reports of gunshots coming from the bus
About 26 passengers are being held hostage at gunpoint on a bus in the Greek capital Athens.
Armed officers have surrounded the vehicle, which was hijacked just before dawn on its route from the town of Marathon into central Athens.

The driver of the bus escaped. The head of the bus company said the hijackers wanted to be taken to Athens airport.

Witnesses said at least two shots were fired at police when they arrived at the scene shortly after the takeover.

"The bus is stopped, police have surrounded it," a police official said.

He said a group of negotiators had arrived at the scene, outside a nightclub.

Motive unknown

The bus was seized at about 0600 (0400 GMT).

Besides the driver, the ticket inspector and a passenger also managed to get away, reports said.

The gunmen are said to be carrying hunting rifles or shotguns.


A police official quoted anonymously by the AFP news agency said they were Russian, and wanted to be flown to Russia.

Earlier police had suggested they were Albanian.

The head of the bus company told an Athens radio station that the men had demanded a driver to replace the one that escaped.

Roads nearby were cut off by police, ambulances parked near the scene, a helicopter hovered overhead and news crews were being held back.

The curtains of the bus were drawn.

Five years ago, Greece witnessed two bus hijackings within two months.

In both cases, an Albanian man took control of the vehicle, demanding money and safe passage to Albania.

Both hijackers were shot dead by security forces. In one of the incidents, a passenger was also killed.





Yet another incident to prove that this world is in such a sorry state