Greek priest charged after acid attack

ATHENS, Greece — A defrocked Greek Orthodox priest was charged Thursday with several counts of causing grievous bodily harm over an acid attack that injured seven senior bishops and three other people.

The 37-year-old Greek man was led to court in lay clothing and handcuffs under a heavily armed police escort.

He was arrested late Wednesday after the bishops were doused with acid following their announcement at a disciplinary hearing that the suspect had been removed from the clergy over misconduct allegations.

The victims of the attack were hospitalized with burns, two in more serious condition. The arresting officer also was hospitalized with burns. Most were released Thursday.

Photographs of the scene of the attack in central Athens, shown on state ERT TV, showed bloodstains and acid burns on the walls of the room where the hearing was held and on small desks where the bishops had been seated. Discarded black robes thrown off by the bishops and attending clergy also had bloodstains and burn holes.

The governing Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church described the attack as “abhorrent and unprecedented.”

Church officials said the priest was removed for “ecclesiastical and criminal offenses” including fraud and illegal possession of drugs, adding that he had made threatening posts on social media.