Nea Ionia: video shows two men pouring gasoline at café later engulfed in flames

Greek police have in hand a video confirming the arson lead in the Nea Ionia café fire: it shows two hooded perpetrators approaching on a motorcycle shortly before the blaze broke out, as Newsit reports.

According to SKAI’s reporting, the two men arrived outside the café at dawn on Monday (September 28, 2026): the passenger got off the motorcycle, smashed the window with an object, sprayed tables and chairs with flammable material and set it alight — and seconds later both vanished.

Residents of five apartments were put at risk by the fire, including children and a pregnant woman. As Newsit reports, the blaze completely gutted the three-story building — balconies, aluminum frames and facades were charred; six residents were trapped and rescued by firefighters, while a 10-year-old girl was taken to hospital after inhaling smoke and is in good condition.

The motives are still unknown. At the same café, on February 22, 2023, there was an armed brawl in which a 39-year-old lost his life; the owner cannot determine a motive and has reported no threats. Police are seeking additional footage from area cameras to trace the perpetrators’ approach and escape routes.