ATHENS — The home of Germany’s ambassador to Athens was sprayed with gunfire early Monday in a suspected terrorist attack that prompted both governments to declare it would not strain ties between bailed-out Greece and its leading lender.
No one was hurt in the predawn attack when gunmen riddled the official residence of Ambassador Wolfgang Dold with bullets from two AK-47 assault rifles.
The Greek government called the shooting a ‘‘cowardly terrorist action’’ aimed at hurting the country’s image before it takes over the presidency of the 28-nation European Union and seeks a major debt relief deal with eurozone creditors. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred on a busy road in the Halandri area north of the capital.
Six people were briefly detained for questioning and released without charge while investigators examined video from surveillance cameras as well as a stolen car found near the scene, police said.
As Greece’s biggest bailout lender, Germany is often the subject of strong criticism in the country. Greece is suffering through a sixth year of recession and austerity measures imposed as a condition of its rescue loans.
On Monday, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras telephoned German Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as the German ambassador following the attack. The government said it was meant to tarnish the country’s reputation during its Jan. 1 to June 30 presidency of the EU.