Greek shipping minister's office hit by petrol bombs, no injuries

A group of hooded perpetrators attacked with petrol bombs the political office of Greek Shipping Minister Miltiades Varvitsiotis on Wednesday evening, causing material damages, but no injuries, according to police.

Eye witnesses said that seven persons participated in the attack at the central district of Kolonaki in Athens. They forced employees out of the office before starting the fire and fled.

As a police investigation is underway to identify, trace and arrest the assailants, Varvitsiotis, government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou and political parties condemned the attack, stressing that "democracy can not be terrorized."

Offices of politicians have often been targeted by anarchist groups across Greece, in particular after the start of the debt crisis in late 2009.