Shots Fired Outside Home of German Ambassador In Greece

Both governments quickly condemned the attack, which came days before Greece ascends to the presidency of the European Union

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Shots were fired at the residence of the German ambassador to Greece early Monday, drawing condemnation from the governments of both countries that have sparred over massive bailouts for Greece.

Police said they recovered more than 60 bullet casings from the suspected terrorist attack on the home of Ambassador Wolfgang Dold, but no one was injured, the Associated Press reports. The Greek government, which takes over the presidency of the European Union on Wednesday for a six-month stint, called the attack a “cowardly terrorist action” aimed at hurting its reputation before the EU shift in leadership.

Germany has been heavily criticized in Greece for conditioning bailout funds on the condition of severe austerity measures that are unpopular in Greece. But the heads of both governments spoke Monday after the attack, and both joined in condemning the incident.

“This is a clear signal that the bond between Germany and Greece cannot be damaged by such an attack,” said Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel.

[AP]