Video footage of the incident, which occurred on the morning of Thursday, September 26th in central Athens, has been obtained and presented by protothema.gr, showing the shocking violence.

The 33-year-old woman and her 31-year-old companion entered the taxi, but during the ride, a conversation revealed the woman’s gender identity. The driver abruptly stopped the car, forced them out, and physically assaulted them, hitting both with punches and kicks.

In her attempt to escape, the woman fell into the glass entrance of an apartment building, shattering the glass and injuring herself, while her companion lay on the ground.

She was taken to the hospital, where she underwent surgery and remains hospitalized.

After an investigation by the Racist Violence Division of the Attica Security Directorate, the 55-year-old foreign suspect was identified. He was apprehended on the afternoon of September 29th, 2024, and charged with threats and dangerous bodily harm with racist characteristics.

Official Statement by the Hellenic Police:

The Racist Violence Division of the Attica Security Directorate has solved a racially motivated attack against a 33-year-old transgender woman and a 31-year-old man, carried out by a taxi driver in the early hours of September 26th, 2024, in central Athens.

The driver, after realizing the woman’s gender identity during their ride, stopped the car, forced them out, and attacked them with punches and kicks.

The woman, trying to flee, fell into the glass entrance of a building, breaking it and sustaining injuries, while her companion was left on the ground.

The 33-year-old was taken to a hospital, underwent surgery, and remains in treatment.

Police identified the 55-year-old foreign suspect through a combined evaluation of evidence and information, apprehending him on the afternoon of September 29th, 2024. He has been charged with threats and dangerous bodily harm with racist characteristics.

The case file will be submitted to the Athens Prosecutor’s Office.