The number of domestic abuse victims taking their own lives has outstripped the number being killed by an intimate partner for the third consecutive year (Picture: Getty Images)
A teenage girl has been identified as being driven to end her own life because of domestic abuse for the first time, with ‘toxic influencers’ and violent porn blamed for a worrying rise in abuse among teenagers.
The number of domestic abuse victims taking their own lives has outstripped the number being killed by an intimate partner for the third consecutive year – and nearly doubled in the past year.
There were 150 suspected cases where abuse victims ended their lives in the year to March 2025 – up from 98 in the previous 12 months. The Domestic Homicide Project report recorded 80 intimate partner killings.
Teenagers aged 16 to 19 are now the fastest growing age group to report suffering domestic abuse, figures show.
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And for the first time, the annual Crime Survey for England and Wales includes a case of suicide following domestic abuse where both the victim and suspect were aged under 18.
Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, the national policing lead for domestic abuse, said access to violent pornography and ‘toxic influencers’ online may be fuelling abuse cases among teenagers.
She said: ‘People are now much more likely to access violent pornography which normalises violence and behaviour in a relationship, and particularly non-fatal strangulation, (which is) hugely dangerous.
‘We see the connection between the sort of sense of toxic influencers online and their sort of views that are promoted about women and women’s status in society.’
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Last month, more than 60 Labour MPs wrote to the broadcasting regulator’s chief executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, on Tuesday, saying they are ‘gravely concerned’ about the risk posed to teenage boys online, such as ‘far-right political radicalisation’, violent pornography, and ‘misogynist influencers’.
There have been four reported cases of suicides where the victim was under 16 and the perpetrator was over 18 – three an adult family member, and one an intimate partner.
Tim Woodhouse, a suicide prevention programme manager who is undertaking a PhD examining domestic abuse-related suicides, told Metro: ‘Every suicide by a victim of domestic abuse is tragic, but there is extra pain and poignancy when someone so young dies.
This Is Not Right
On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.
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With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.
You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.
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‘The rise in teenagers reporting domestic abuse is very concerning but it reinforces the need for additional effort and resources to go into prevention and early intervention. And that must include measures to keep these young people safe from suicide as well as safe from their perpetrators.’
In the five years of the annual Domestic Homicide Project, which analyses police recorded domestic homicides, 414 were intimate partner homicide, 227 were adult familial homicide, 553 were suicide following domestic abuse, 131 were unexpected deaths, 86 child deaths and 41 classed as other.
Mr Woodhouse said the rise in the number of domestic abuse-related suicides ‘is a national scandal that is largely being ignored’.
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He repeated calls for a national task force specifically aimed at reducing the number, adding: ‘Without a co-ordinated response, our country’s attempts to reduce the numbers of these tragic deaths will continue to be piecemeal and ineffective.’
Campaigners also want a new law to make suicide following domestic abuse a specific criminal offence separate from manslaughter, to make it easier for juries to understand.
There have been two high profile cases involving suicides allegedly caused by abuse in the past 18 months which both resulted in verdicts of not guilty in relation to manslaughter charges.
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Frank Mullane from support service Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse said: ‘We need a new law which separates suicide from domestic abuse, from manslaughter.
‘I’m speculating that the average juror sees manslaughter as maybe a punch-up in a car park, other types of killing.
‘I think if we separate suicide from domestic abuse, it will help educate the public.’
Mr Woodhouse told Metro there is a causal link between domestic abuse and suicide in some cases.
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He said: ‘Suicide is always complicated, and for some people there may be other things that contribute to the suicide attempt, however for many victims the overwhelming nature of the abuse, which may have been going on for months and years, the pain from the physical and sexual abuse, the coercive control which leads to isolation from friends and family all adds up to feelings of hopelessness and entrapment which means that they believe suicide is the only escape.’
What to do if you’re experiencing domestic abuse
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. And whether you are currently coping with or have made the decision to leave, you do have options.
If you are thinking about leaving, domestic abuse charity Refuge suggests starting a record of abusive incidents, which might include saving pictures or messages, or making notes of times, dates and details of incidents.
The next step is to make copies of important documents such as court orders, marriage certificates, National Insurance Numbers and your driving licence.
In the meantime, identify the safer areas of your home so that you know where to go if your abuser becomes aggravated. Ideally, this should be a room with a phone and a door or window to the outside.
If you feel ready to leave, start by making a plan for a safe, reliable route out. If you feel safe to do so, pack an emergency bag so that you leave in a hurry if needed.
You can access a local refuge, either with or without children, for as long as you need to stay. The address is confidential. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) is open 24-hours a day and has all the details of refuges in your area.
In an emergency situation, ring 999 and ask for the police. If you aren’t able to talk, try the Silent Solution: after dialling 999, listen to the questions from the operator and respond by coughing or tapping your device, if possible. If prompted, press 55 to let the operator know it’s an emergency – you’ll be put through to the police.
In the past five years, there have been 17 cases where domestic abuse charges have been brought after a victim took their own life, three of which investigated possible manslaughter.
There are expected to be seven more posthumous cases, and the number of these investigations is expected to rise.
No jury in England and Wales has ever convicted someone of manslaughter after a case of suicide involving domestic abuse.
In total, 1,452 deaths linked to domestic abuse were recorded over a five-year period, and 347 deaths in the year to March 2025.
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This is an increase of 85 deaths from the previous year, most of which are suspected suicides following domestic abuse.
Police believe this is down to increased recording of such cases rather than a rise in the number of crimes being committed.
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips said: ‘Every life lost to domestic abuse is a devastating tragedy, and my thoughts are with families and loved ones left grieving.
‘I welcome this important report, which highlights the link between domestic abuse and suicide, and reinforces the need for tougher action to stop perpetrators causing harm.
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‘Our Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy sets out how we are rooting out the causes of domestic abuse-related deaths and deploying the full power of the state to crack down on these vile crimes.’
Riley, 13, was last seen in the Regent Court area of Gateshead town centre at about 3pm on Tuesday, April 21.
He was last in touch with his family on Friday, April 24.
Extensive enquiries have been ongoing by Northumbria Police to locate him.
The 13-year-old is known to frequent the Chester-le-Street area of County Durham and the Stockton area of Teesside.
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Riley is described as a white boy, 5ft 6in tall and of slim build with mousy brown short hair.
He wears glasses and is believed to be wearing a grey Berghaus jacket, black pants and black trainers.
Anyone who knows where Riley is should send Northumbria Police a direct message on social media or use the live chat and report forms on the force’s website.
For those unable to make contact via the above ways, call 101 and quote reference number: NP-20260421-0796.
A hearing found that the officer committed gross misconduct
A police officer has been given a final written warning after a misconduct hearing. The officer, referred to as PC A, faced three allegations and was found to have committed gross misconduct by a misconduct panel.
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On June 13, 2024, the officer is alleged to have recorded body worn footage onto their phone, showed it to a witness, and tried to show the video while in a pub.
Between January 1, 2024, and March 1, 2024, the officer allegedly gave information and details about an investigation involving a child. Both of these allegations were found to be proven at the misconduct hearing.
It was also alleged that between February 1, 2024 and October 18, 2024, the officer recorded body worn video onto their phone and showed the footage to a witness. The panel was not satisfied with the evidence and found this allegation was not proven.
The panel determined that the officer acted contrary to orders and instructions, processed and/or disclosed information otherwise than in accordance with a proper policing purpose, and acted in a manner likely to bring discredit upon the police service.
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The officer’s hearing concluded that they be given a final written warning to last three years. This decision was made considering the seriousness of the conduct, the circumstances that gave rise to the misconduct, the public interest, and the mitigation offered by the officer including previous record of conduct.
Smiling at a press event after retirement, Coleman reflects on years at the heart of Washington’s defence (Picture: Getty Images)
NFL legend Monte Coleman has died at the age of 68, two of his former teams have confirmed.
Tributes began to emerge on Sunday, with both Washington and Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions leading the way with the kind words. No cause of death has been announced as yet.
Coleman was a central figure in Washington’s most successful ever era, playing his part in three Super Bowl-winning teams. Across 16 seasons, the 6’2″ player became one of the most dependable names on any NFL team sheet.
His back door route into the NFL didn’t quite hint at what was coming for the man. Washington selected him in the 11th round of the 1979 Draft with the 289th overall pick.
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Players taken that late don’t usually hang around in the sport for long, let alone go on to define an era. Coleman did both. He stayed with Washington for his entire 16 year career and became a mainstay in their defence. His consistency helped underpin those three title-winning sides.
Monte Coleman in Washington colours during his playing days having built a reputation as one of the NFL’s most reliable linebackers (Picture: Getty Images)
Coleman made more than 200 appearances for Washington during that spell. giving the team a level of stability that stretched across more than a decade.
Recognition followed long after he stepped away. In 2015, Coleman was inducted into Washington’s Ring of Fame. It cemented his place among the franchise’s most important ever figures.
The Commanders (who were – rather controversially – known as the ‘Redskins’ during Coleman’s playing career) paid tribute shortly after news broke. ‘We mourn the loss of one of the greatest to ever suit up in the Burgundy & Gold, Monte Coleman,’ the team posted on X. ‘Our heartfelt condolences are with his loved ones’.
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A typically committed tackle as Coleman brings down a Raiders runner during his time in Washington (Picture: Getty Images)
Managing partner Josh Harris expanded on that message, chipping in personally to pay his respects, saying: ‘Monte Coleman was one of the greatest players in Washington history. He was one of the pillars of our championship defenses having played for all three Super Bowl winning teams. His durability and leadership set the standard for what it meant to suit up for the Burgundy & Gold.’
‘Monte played all 16 seasons in Washington and ranks second in games played and fourth in sacks all-time earning him a place in the Washington Ring of Fame. Named the Washingtonian of the Year in 1996, Monte made a major impact in our community with his philanthropic work and community service.’
Harris finished his tribute with something of a personal note: ‘Monte will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Coleman family, his friends and all who knew him. May his memory be a blessing.’
Leaping into action during a game, Coleman shows the athleticism that defined his illustrious career (Picture: Getty Images)
Before joining the National Football League, Coleman had already made his mark locally. He stood out at Pine Bluff High School before moving on to the University of Central Arkansas. By the time he reached the draft, he’d built a strong foundation to launch a career in the sport.
He stepped away from playing in 1994. Football didn’t stay away from him for long though, even if there was a gap before his almost inevitable return. In 2003, he re-joined his hometown side Arkansas-Pine Bluff as a linebackers coach.
Within three years, he was promoted to defensive coordinator. His influence within the programme grew quickly.
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In 2008, Coleman became head coach. He remained in the role for a decade and led the team to the Southwestern Athletic Conference title in 2012. It was the standout achievement of his coaching career.
Taking a breather on the sidelines, Coleman pauses after yet another bruising outing in a long Washington career (Picture: Getty Images)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff also confirmed his death in a statement on Sunday. The university described him as a ‘revered leader whose impact on the game of football and countless lives will be felt for generations.’
The statement also reflected on his wider contribution to their setup. Coleman was called a ‘cornerstone of excellence both on and off the field’ who ‘leaves behind a legacy defined by perseverance, leadership, and championship success.’
‘Beyond wins and accolades, Coleman was a mentor, father figure, and role model to his student-athletes, instilling values that extended far beyond the game,’ the statement went on. ‘His influence helped shape the lives of countless young men who wore the Golden Lion uniform.’
Ball in hand, Coleman charges forward in a rare attacking moment during his time in the NFL (Picture: Getty Images)
The football legend’s old university side also ended their message with support for Monte’s grieving relative: ‘The UAPB family extends its deepest condolences to the Coleman family, former players, colleagues, and all who were impacted by his extraordinary life and career.’
Funeral details have not yet been confirmed. The school said information on memorial arrangements will be shared at a later date.
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Former players have also been sharing their memories of the man. Gabe McDonald, who played under Coleman, posted photos of them together on X. His tribute focused on the opportunity he was given…
‘Only coach that believed in me and gave me the chance to live out my dream of playing D1 ball, an opportunity I’m forever grateful for,’ he wrote. ‘Fly high, Coach Coleman. You’ll be truly missed’.
The NFL icon won the Super Bowl a full three times in his long and storied career in the sport (Picture: Getty Images)
Chris Robinson, UAPB’s Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics, highlighted the same theme. ‘Coach Coleman represented everything we strive for at UAPB excellence, integrity, and a relentless commitment to developing our student-athletes,’ he said.
‘His legacy is not only written in championships and honours, but in the lives he changed every single day.’
My kids tell me this is the BEST toad in the hole ever. They preferred it with cheddar sprinkled over the top rather than Stilton, but you could use either, or indeed any similar cheese (just not Parmesan types, that’s too hard).
You can make this in a roasting tin or ovenproof pan, and serve at the table straight from the vessel. Choose good-quality sausages for the best result.
The fashion firm is currently based in the Cleveland Centre but has appeared on plans for the neighbouring Hillstreet Shopping Centre.
Floor plans show the JD logo placed on a 15,714 square foot unit next door to Boots and opposite Primark – with the shopping centre website also naming it as an “anchor retailer”.
JD Sports declined to comment when contacted by The Northern Echo about the potential relocation.
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If it goes ahead, this would mark the second retailer to move from the Cleveland Centre to the Hillstreet Centre in recent months, following the footsteps of Boots.
The firm said the new location would provide an “elevated shopping experience and an extended range of health, wellness and beauty essentials”.
Discount retailer B&M also recently returned to Middlesbrough town centre in the form of a new store at the Hillstreet Centre in February.
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JD Sports continues to operate a number of other sites in the North East including at the Cornmill Shopping Centre in Darlington, Bishop Auckland Retail Park, and Cleveland Retail Park.
The schmaltzy football dramedy returns this August, with Jason Sudeikis and his handlebar moustache back as the eponymous Ted, who returns to Blighty to coach the Greyhound women’s team.
The teaser is the first look at what this upheaval in the show’s premise will look like, with the Richmond FC locker-room of men, including fan favourites like Jamie Tartt, swapped out for a new cast of women players.
The teaser is set to the folksy tune of Marcus Mumford’s vocals, which is no surprise given the Mumford and Sons frontman croons over the show’s title sequence.
Given it’s a teaser rather than a fully-fledged trailer, the one-minute clip is mostly vibes-based, but shows that the faces of the first three seasons of Ted Lasso are likely in store for more of the show’s earnest brand of good feeling.
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All the main cast is there: Hannah Waddingham as club owner Rebecca, Brett Goldstein as the gruffly-spoken Roy Kent, Juno Temple as his maybe other half Keeley and Jeremy Swift as the inimitable Leslie.
Jason Sudeikis and his handlebar moustache are back as Ted Lasso (Picture: Apple TV)
The schmaltzy football dramedy returns this August (Picture: Apple TV)
The trio of Richmond’s pint-sinking number one fans give a round of applause at a maybe-press conference.
The women’s team lines up and runs for a series on drills on the pitch, with newcomer Tanya Reynolds on board as a coach alongside Ted and Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt). Rebecca and Ted’s (recast) son Henry cheer on Richmond from the heavily merchandised stands.
Having returned from the US, we see Ted walking from the quaint streets of Richmond, where he’s approached by a fan (wearing his Richmond scarf, which seems to be locally mandated attire in those parts).
‘Welcome back coach,’ says the fan. ‘Too bad you’re coaching a bunch of girls.’ Oof! Looks like we’re tackling sexism this season. The eternal optimist Ted doesn’t look fazed.
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It’s the incredibly charming Dutch boat guy! Good for you, Rebecca! (Picture: Apple TV)
In one scene from the teaser, Ted and Coach Beard attend what looks like some postdramatic theatre (Picture: Apple TV)
How will this season follow on from season 3?
Senior TV Reporter Rebecca Cook shares her take…
Ted Lasso purists won’t want to hear this, but the last time this show was on the air, it was dreadful.
I, like many, found Ted Lasso in the midst of a manic pandemic state. It was like discovering a sweet, better place I could leave my house to travel to.
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But by the third season, it was bloated with too many storylines, preachy with its need to tell us all how to live our lives and did a huge disservice to favs like Keeley.
The show had outstayed its wholesome welcome and seemed to know it. Ted was sent packing back to the US like he needed a time-out.
But now this jewel in the Apple TV mantle returns with what seems to be renewed focus and, better yet, new ideas.
Ted has been freed from the US (I can’t imagine his brand of niceness fits in over there anymore) and returns to Richmond to take on what has been touted as his ‘biggest challenge yet’: coaching a second division women’s football team.
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(The men’s team weren’t easy to turn into a winning side, but okay.)
The official synopsis reads: ‘Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would.’
We haven’t got a load to go on with just a teaser, but a huge shake-up of the cast and focus is encouraging.
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This is huge news: Rebecca is seen kissing the incredibly charming Dutch boat guy, who she spent a magical evening with while the team played away in Amsterdam. Hurrah!
Roy, sat next to Keeley in an SUV, smashes through the skylight window with a (checks notes) black stiletto. Okay… Ted laughs with a maybe-love interest. Rebecca has herself a drink. Ted and Coach Beard attend what looks like some postdramatic theatre. The score swells.
And last of all, Ted sits in Rebecca’s office with Leslie and Keeley (can’t see any biscuits in sight) and delivers a string of acronyms, while still managing to say ‘pretty please’.
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As for the nitty-gritty of how all of this folds together, we’ll have to wait for a full trailer.
Ted Lasso season 4 will be available to stream on Apple TV from August 5.
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The salon has been created to provide a familiar and relaxing experience, helping to reduce anxiety and promote comfort, confidence and wellbeing. With a gentle approach and dementia-friendly surroundings, the event aims to offer not only practical support, but also a chance for guests to enjoy a little pampering in a safe and supportive setting.
Democrat congresswoman for New Mexico Melanie Stansbury, fighting for justice for survivors, says one alleged victim claimed he had been invited to a party at the late pedophile’s 7,500-acre Zorro Ranch, where he said he was plied with drugs and raped.
In the recently released 60 Minutes Australia episode, Stansbury says the unnamed man described “multiple young men… raped at the ranch in front of him after he was drugged”.
“Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were serial abusers; they really were super predators, and it was just how they lived their lives,” she added.
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Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico (Getty)
Harrowing testimonies heard in Sunday’s documentary aired as state authorities pressed on with their reopened probe into allegations of abuse at the compound.
Authorities in New Mexico are now trying to determine how many local women and girls were abused at the ranch, after a number of residents came forward with fresh allegations. To date, only one resident was known to be from the state.
But state representative Marianna Anaya, who co-sponsored the state’s Truth Commission probe into Epstein, said Monday that the group has been in contact with a number of locals who now say they were also abused at the ranch.
“I can confirm that we have been reached out to by local alleged victims,” she told Reuters. It marked the first time the commission has acknowledged contact with locals who say they were abused at the ranch during the quarter-century Epstein owned the property.
The Truth Commission is working with the New Mexico Department of Justice to help survivors who may have viable criminal cases bring charges against Epstein’s co-conspirators, Anaya added.
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Chauntae Davies said she was abused by Epstein between 2001 and 2005 (60 Minutes Australia)
Horrific claims of abuse have come into focus since New Mexico reopened its investigation into allegations of child sex trafficking at the ranch in February, citing the U.S. Justice Department’s release of millions of files on Epstein, including allegations that he buried the bodies of two girls in hills outside the property.
That tip off, claimed to have been written by a former ranch staffer, alleged that “two foreign girls” had been buried near the ranch, having died “by strangulation during rough fetish sex”.
The note sent to the FBI was seemingly never investigated, and the state of New Mexico shelved its probe into the ranch in 2019, following a request from federal prosecutors in New York.
Chauntae Davies, who has previously spoken out about her alleged abuse at the ranch, detailed her experiences to 60 Minutes Australia.
“Zorro Ranch was probably the most eerie, just giant and quiet, and literally in the middle of nowhere, and miles and miles of just mountains and dirt for miles,” she said.
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She went on to describe hearing of other victims “waking up in a dark room with a female doctor standing over them, feeling like maybe there is some kind of procedure that had happened.”
Davies, who says she was abused by Epstein between 2001 and 2005, remained haunted by her time at the isolated ranch, where she said no matter how loudly you screamed, nobody could hear you.
Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in one of many images shared by the Department of Justice in Washington (U.S. Justice Department)
The sprawling property includes a 21,000 sq-ft mansion, a log cabin, a guest house, a pool and an airstrip on part-private, part-public land. State officials told CBS in 2019 that Epstein was so secretive about it that they had very little access or knowledge about what was happening there.
Davies said she spent a lot of time in her room “like a mouse in a trap, waiting for a knock on the door and for someone to say, ‘Jeffrey is ready for his massage now’”. She said that would mean rape.
She said she remembered overhearing conversations about “trying to create the perfect baby” and “a ‘hunt’, if you will, for the perfect gene pool”.
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She told CBS News in 2019 that she often saw “random young women, some models, other women” at the ranch, but was unsure whether they were sexually abused.
Maria Jose Rodriguez Cadiz, who heads Solace Sexual Assault Services in Santa Fe, the only such support centre in the region, said in 2019 that around 45 people had approached the centre to seek information, therapy and other services in relation to alleged sexual abuse at the ranch.
She estimated that between a quarter and a half of those contacts were from women who said they had been abused at the ranch, although she added that the centre did not keep detailed records.
A manhunt has been launched for an 89-year-old man accused of opening fire on people in government buildings with a shotgun in central Athens, wounding at least four people.
The attacker opened fire at a social security agency in Petralona this morning before travelling to a nearby courthouse and injuring several more people, police said.
An employee of the agency wounded during the rampage was hospitalised after being treated at the scene by police as the suspect made his escape.
At least three female court employees were slightly wounded by ricocheting shotgun pellets at the courthouse, while media reports said a fourth employee was taken to hospital without physical injuries.
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A policeman speaks with a woman outside a courthouse after a gunman opened fire, leaving several people wounded in Athens, on Tuesday, 28 April 2026 (AP)
Television footage showed ambulance crews transporting at least three people from the courthouse to waiting ambulances.
A motive for the attack remained unclear as police established a heavy presence at the scene. State broadcaster ERT reported that the gunman had reportedly left envelopes with documents at the courthouse after the shooting, claiming the motive was linked.
The outlet identified the suspect as an 89-year-old, saying he disappeared after abandoning his firearm in a photocopier. Authorities later found the gun, police said.
Alexandros Varveris, head of the National Social Security Fund, known by its Greek acronym EFKA, said the gunman had gone to the fourth floor of the social security fund’s offices in the Kerameikos area of central Athens and opened fire after calling out to an employee to duck.
His shot hit another employee, who was wounded in the leg, Varveris said, adding that the gunman had been wearing a trenchcoat under which he had hidden the shotgun.”
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“He went in, went up to the fourth floor, raised his shotgun, told an employee to duck, and hit another one,” Varveris told ERT radio. He said the gunman didn’t appear to specifically target the employee he hit.
The wounded employee was transported to hospital after police applied a tourniquet to his leg at the scene. Gun violence is relatively rare in Greece, where firearm ownership is allowed but tightly regulated.
Earlier, Sir Philip Barton, the top civil servant at the Foreign Office at the time, told the committee Downing Street had been “uninterested” in the vetting process and the focus was on making sure Lord Mandelson was able to start his job by the time of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
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