Spata: The Argument Over Smoking That Led to Knife Threats on a Bus – Timeline and Arrest of the 23-Year-Old Suspect

A simple remark about smoking sparked a terrifying incident on an urban bus in Spata, Greece, when a 23-year-old man reportedly pulled out a knife and threatened passengers. The event unfolded around 2:00 PM yesterday (June 30, 2025), during a routine route from Nomismatokopeio to Artemida. As the bus was in motion, the suspect lit a cigarette. An older passenger asked him to put it out, prompting a chilling response: ‘Do you want me to show you what I have in my pocket?’ He then revealed a knife he had concealed. The alarmed passenger immediately informed the driver, who pulled over at the nearest stop and evacuated everyone onboard. The suspect followed other passengers onto another bus on the same route. During the ride, the new driver coordinated with local police, leading to a tactical stop along the Spata Avenue. Officers from the DIAS unit boarded the bus and arrested the 23-year-old suspect. Authorities found the knife hidden next to his seat during the arrest. It was also revealed that the suspect had a prior criminal record for robbery and was under a court order requiring regular check-ins with local police.