Authorities have arrested one person and detained another as part of a large-scale police operation following a deadly attack in the village of Vorizia, near Iraklio on the southern island of Crete, which left two people dead and four injured on Friday.
The violence reportedly stemmed from a long-standing dispute between the Kargakis and Frangiadakis families over grazing lands, and officials fear the feud could continue.
One of the deceased is reported to be a member of the Kargakis family, while a 56-year-old woman, initially believed to have died of a heart attack, was found – following a forensic examination – to have died from a gunshot wound. The forensic report on the second victim, aged 39, has not yet been completed. His funeral service, which had been planned for Sunday, has been postponed. Earlier reports had suggested three fatalities.
Local authorities confirmed that several members of the Frangiadakis family are already known to police, with the father and sons currently in prison.
Police said at least ten houses have been searched so far, with related evidence found at two residences. The investigation will continue in the coming days, extending to nearby villages, and will remain active “until all parties involved in the incident are brought to justice,” a police spokesperson said.
In response, Greece’s police chief Dimitris Mallios and Fotis Douitsis, head of the criminal investigations division, have traveled to Crete. A specialized 10-member investigative team, sometimes referred to as the “Greek FBI,” has joined the operation, while EKAM counterterrorism units from Athens are expected to remain deployed in the area.
Also, by order of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Minister Sofia Zacharaki, a special team of child psychologists and social workers will travel to Crete to support the local school community, particularly students in the area.
The attack followed a bomb explosion at a construction site the previous day. Witnesses said unknown assailants then traveled to Vorizia, opening fire indiscriminately in apparent retaliation, with authorities estimating that thousands of bullets were fired. The attackers were reportedly armed with Kalashnikov rifles, and gunfire was heard in the area long after the initial assault.
Tensions remain high at Venizeleio General Hospital in Iraklio, where dozens of relatives and villagers have gathered, awaiting updates on the dead and wounded. Police have cordoned off the hospital and deployed riot units to prevent further unrest, while emergency medical teams remain on standby.
This story has been updated.
