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While the woman was left with minor injuries to her leg, the man sustained serious arm injuries before being transported to the hospital in an ambulance
NEED TO KNOW
- Two American tourists were reportedly stabbed in a random attack near the Acropolis in Athens, Greece on Tuesday, July 21
- A man reportedly sustained serious arm injuries while protecting a woman who suffered minor leg injuries
- The suspect, who was identified as a 60-year-old Greek man, was detained at the scene
Two U.S. tourists have reportedly been injured in a knife attack near the historic site of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
On Tuesday, July 21, the suspect, who was identified as a 60-year-old Greek man by local outlet Ethnos, stabbed a woman and a man near an entrance to the ancient monument and the nearby Acropolis Museum, local authorities stated, per the Associated Press.
He had also threatened other passers-by shortly before his alleged attack at around 8 a.m. local time, per Ethnos.
While the woman was left with minor injuries to her leg, the man sustained serious arm injuries before being transported to the hospital in an ambulance, according to the Associated Press, CBS News and The Independent.
A medic also had to apply a tourniquet to one of the victims to stop the bleeding, per Ethnos.
The man had been trying to protect the woman when he got injured, according to Ta Nea. Both victims are described as being out of danger and are being treated for their injuries, the outlet reported.
The attacker, who was known to authorities, per Ethnos and Ta Nea, was detained at the scene, the Associated Press reported.
He is believed to be a Greek national experiencing homelessness and is currently being held in custody, per Ethnos and Ta Nea.
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“[The man] went to slaughter the woman, we heard screams, we saw her lying on the ground covered in blood,” one witness told Ta Nea.
“We were in line and waiting to get in,” an Australian expatriate who was visiting the Acropolis with her daughter at the time told the Orange Press Agency, per Ta Nea.
“The doors didn’t open and we heard voices. People scattered and we saw the one with a knife going towards a woman. “
“Then we saw the woman down on the ground with blood on her back. We got scared and moved away, but when the police came we returned and continued on our way,” the expatriate continued.
The expatriate added that the Hellenic Police and the Emergency Medical Services cleared tourists from the scene following the incident, per Ta Nea.
Despite the attack, the sites were not closed and continued to operate as normal, according to the Associated Press.
PEOPLE reached out to the Hellenic Police and the National Centre for Emergency Care (EKAB) for comment.
Read the original article on People
