In a harrowing interview with MEGA, the mother of an 18-year-old who was stabbed in a violent attack in Athens’ St. Dimitrios district described the terror of receiving her son’s frantic call moments after the assault. The teenager was attacked by a 23-year-old man near the intersection of Menelaou and Psiloriti streets on Tuesday afternoon, August 18, 2026 — just minutes before he would have reached his football training ground.
‘Mom, Run — I’ve Been Stabbed’
‘He called me immediately,’ she recounted, voice trembling. ‘“Mom, run — I’ve been stabbed.” I looked at my phone and thought, “Is it really him? Is this some kind of prank?” He just kept saying, “Mom, hurry!” We lost our footing — everything went black.’
The young man sustained two deep stab wounds — one to the face and another to the back — inflicted with a folding knife. He underwent emergency surgery requiring 10 stitches and remains hospitalized, though doctors have confirmed he is now out of immediate danger.
A Life Hanging in the Balance
‘I don’t care whether he wanted to rob him or not — he came to kill him,’ the mother emphasized. ‘My son was walking calmly, heading to practice. That man emerged from behind, armed and intent on taking his life.’
According to the victim, he had never met the attacker before. ‘He asked me for everything I had on me,’ the teen told investigators. ‘I tried to defend myself — but he struck me twice.’
‘Today my child survived. But what about tomorrow? Or the day after? Another child? A grandmother? A grandfather? One bad day, one terrible moment — he nearly took his life. Thank God, he’s alive and out of danger,’ she said, visibly shaken.
Perpetrator Arrested With Community Help
As reported by MEGA, the suspect — a 23-year-old local resident — was apprehended shortly after the attack thanks to swift action by neighbors and a key witness. The witness saw the man walking near the crime scene holding the knife, then entering his apartment building just a short distance away.
Authorities continue investigating the precise circumstances surrounding the incident. While robbery appears to have been the initial motive, all possibilities remain under review as prosecutors assess whether the violence escalated with lethal intent.