Manhunt for suspected gunman aged 89 as five wounded in Athens

A manhunt has been launched in Athens for an 89-year-old suspect following a shooting spree which left five people injured, according to police and local media reports.

The attacker initially opened fire at a social security agency in Petralona on Tuesday and wounded an employee in the leg, police said.

He then took a taxi to a courthouse in Ampelokipi, where a further four people were reportedly injured, before fleeing the scene and leaving behind a shotgun, authorities added.

The motive for the shooting is not yet clear, but state broadcaster ERT News said the gunman threw envelopes on the floor of the courthouse which he said contained the reasons for his actions.

The broadcaster reported that the attacker, who remains at large, reportedly entered the buildings with a shotgun concealed under his coat.

Five people - a man and four women - were left with non-life-threatening injuries in the shootings, ERT added.

Gun violence in Greece is relatively uncommon, as firearm ownership is allowed but heavily regulated.