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The Greek government and the police are in a state of high alert because of information about a possible terrorist attack. The data received by the anti-terror office are identified as particularly serious. As a result, police officers guarding government officials and other possible "targets" of the attack are on the alert. The same applies to security forces guarding the three parties - partners in the coalition government and other persons involved in the political and economic life of Greece.

According to an article in Ethnos newspaper, the author of which refers to "trusted sources", the heads of the relevant services have intercepted questionable phone calls and coded messages. The participants were describing their intention to carry out an attack in Athens. Experts have verified the information and ruled that these are "very serious and reliable data that should be subjected to further analysis." They have recommended the political leadership to be informed about them.

According to the information gathered, the potential attackers are preparing a serious attack, the target of which is the heart of the political system. The anti-terror service informed senior representatives of PASOK, New Democracy and LAOS in order to raise security of premises and put party members on red alert.

Guards are closely and constantly watching ministers, senior representatives of ministries and departments and representatives of European and international organizations in Greece as well as representatives of economic institutions and businessmen, and senior representatives of society.

Those responsible for the security are willing to avoid any error and any shortcomings in the protection of dignitaries. Authorities believe that the political and social events coupled with the crisis and the strict economic measures imposed might be the cause for re-emergence of groups that have been inactive for a long time.

Apart from the headquarters of parties in a state of red alert, patrols in public buildings such as the Parliament, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant departments, the offices of the European Union and the European Parliament near Syntagma Square and Vassilias Sofias Avenue, and the embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom have been strengthened. Major banks are also being strictly guarded 24 hours a day. The authorities’ attention is increased across the centre of Athens.

The last terrorist attack was carried out in June 2010 and no members of the group have claimed responsibility for it so far. Its target was the then Minister of Citizens protection Michalis Chrysochoidis, but the bomb intended for him exploded in the hands of his aide George Vassilakis. Months later, police found on the remains of the envelope a fingerprint of the well-known criminal Vassilis Paleokostas.

The authorities' attention is also directed towards arsons in tax offices and cars, which have recently become more frequent in the region of Attica. In the early hours on Tuesday, a hand-made bomb exploded on the first floor of the tax office in the coastal suburb of Glyfada.

Unknown persons had placed gas cylinders in front of the building. Their explosion caused a fire, which the fire brigade quickly extinguished. There was minor damage and the perpetrators escaped.

The same night, there was a series of arsons in the suburb of Halandri. Within 26 minutes, between 10.00 pm and 10.26 pm unknown persons lit fires with flammable materials in four different places and caused damage to five motorcycles and three cars.