In Patras, an international football referee and serving police officer, Eleni Antoniou, was part of the law enforcement team that arrested an 89-year-old man wanted in connection with two violent attacks — one at an EFKA (National Organization for Healthcare) office in Keramiko and another at the Court of Appeals in Patras. After the attacks, the suspect reportedly hailed a taxi and attempted to flee Greece.
Arrest in Patras
The elderly suspect was apprehended in Patras carrying a loaded .38-caliber revolver. According to authorities, he intended to leave Greece and allegedly planned a further attack in Strasbourg, France — a plan that was thwarted by the swift intervention of Greek police.
A Dual Role: Referee and Officer
Eleni Antoniou, affiliated with the Achaea Football Clubs Association (EPS Achaia), is both a certified international referee under UEFA and an active-duty police officer. Her involvement in the arrest highlights the multifaceted roles some public servants hold in Greece.
Background on the Attacks
The two attacks left five people injured. The suspect also left behind a highly inflammatory letter outlining his motives in harsh, confrontational language — a document widely interpreted as a manifesto anticipating the violence.
About Eleni Antoniou
As reported by pelop.gr, Antoniou is scheduled to officiate tomorrow (29 April 2026) the second semifinal of the EPS Achaia Cup between Atromitos Patras and Thyella. She has previously been selected multiple times by UEFA to referee matches in the UEFA Champions League — underscoring her standing in European football officiating.