Alket Rizai, a convicted criminal serving a heavy prison sentence, has been implicated in a shooting incident outside a beach bar in Anavyssos, a coastal town south of Athens, authorities said. The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, and investigators are still working to establish exactly what happened, who drew weapons and who fired the shots.
The role of Rizai, who had been granted leave from Domokos Prison, and of an Afghan man who reportedly worked in the venue's security, are both under close examination by authorities.
How the dispute began
According to information gathered by investigators, the trouble started shortly after the beach bar stopped playing music because of the late hour. Rizai's group had initially been inside the venue before moving outside.
Rizai reportedly then went to his car with members of his group and turned the music up to a very high volume. The owner of the beach bar came outside and asked him to stop, which led to a heated argument, according to the reports gathered so far.
The situation escalated quickly, and several customers and staff members came outside the venue to watch the confrontation unfold.
Weapons drawn outside the venue
At that point, Rizai reportedly produced a weapon. Authorities are seriously considering the possibility that he fired it, probably into the air, although the exact sequence of shots has not yet been fully established.
An Afghan man, reportedly connected to the beach bar's security, is also said to have become involved. According to the same reports, he was called in to intervene once the tension had escalated, and he fired shots toward Rizai.
Investigators examine the gunfire
The police investigation is now focused on determining whether both men fired their weapons and on establishing the exact direction of the shots. Spent shell casings and traces of blood were found at the scene in the hours after the incident, though no injured person was located there.
Rizai's prison leave
Rizai had been outside prison on leave from Domokos Prison and was due to return on Monday morning. Domokos Prison, in central Greece, is one of the country's larger correctional facilities. Under the Greek penal system, inmates can sometimes be granted temporary leave during their sentences before returning to custody.
Following the shooting, authorities have been trying to trace Rizai's movements and establish his whereabouts.
What happens next
Police officers are collecting testimony from people who were at the scene and searching for footage from security cameras in the area. The aim is to reconstruct the incident minute by minute and determine who opened fire first, and whether shots were exchanged between the two men.
