Greece: Four dead in shooting at shipping company

A man, described as a former employee, has shot dead three people at a shipping company's office near Athens.

Greek media report that the gunman killed two men and a woman before turning the gun on himself.

The suspect was found dead next to a hunting rifle that was believed to have been used in the shooting.

Police say the gunman was a former employee who had recently been fired. The owner of the company, European Product Carriers, was among the dead.

The incident, which initially prompted a hostage situation, happened in Glyfada, about 12km (7 miles) south of Athens.

The armed man broke into the building, shot at employees, and then killed two men and a woman before barricading himself inside.

A witness, identified as a company worker, told journalists outside the building: "I heard the gunshots, I heard the first two. I headed towards the stairs to see what was happening. I saw two guys coming down, they said, 'It's Aris with a gun, he's shooting.'

"Of course, I dashed outside, towards the garden, and made my way out through the back door of the garage."

Police officers stand on the balcony of the shipping company, south of Athens, where a man shot dead four people including himself

Police cordoned off a large area around the building and the elite counter-terrorism unit EKAM, as well as fire engines and ambulances were stationed outside.

As the standoff continued, the gunman remained barricaded on the second floor of the building.

A police negotiator tried to defuse the situation for several hours but the man eventually turned the gun on himself.

The shooter has been identified as a 70-year-old Egyptian national.

Shootings - outside of gang-related activity - are rare in Greece, which has strict laws over gun possession.

Many Greek and foreign shipping companies have offices in Glyfada, a seaside resort to the south of Athens.

European Product Carriers owns an average fleet of 35 vessels including oil tankers.