Greek pensioner shoots himself outside parliament in Athens

Greek officials came under immense pressure on Wednesday after a cash strapped pensioner shot and killed himself outside parliment in Athens. The pensioner said he refused to scrounge for food in the rubbish.

Hours after his death, a shrine with candles, flowers and hand written notes protesting against the crisis appeared in the central square where the suicide occurred.

“This is a human tragedy,” government spokesman Pantelis Kapsis said as politicians in parliament decried the death.

Witnesses said the man put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger after yelling out: “I have debts, I can’t stand this any more.”

Police found a suicide note in his pocket blaming politicians and financial difficulties forcing him to take his life.

Officials are fearing the pensioners suicide could encourage other Greeks to do the same with one in five people being unemployed and much of the country in distress.