A 49-year-old Turkish national accused of opening fire on officers of Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP) has appeared before a prosecutor in Thessaloniki, facing attempted murder and weapons charges.
The suspect claims he panicked and believed he was being targeted by rival Turkish criminals, not Greek agents.
The man, who was arrested last week while hiding in a remote hut near the Bulgarian border, is charged with attempted homicide, illegal possession of a weapon, and unlawful use of a firearm, following the May 28 shooting in the northeastern region of Rodopi.
In his initial statement, the man claimed he believed he was being followed not by Greek agents but by Turkish individuals linked to a rival criminal gang.
“I panicked. I thought they were enemies sent by the Turkish regime, from which I have suffered torture,” he said, according to Mega TV. “I apologize for my actions. I came to Greece seeking safety and acted out of fear.”
Greek authorities say the man is a known organized crime figure in Turkey, reportedly wanted on multiple charges including drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, weapons violations, and escape from custody. State broadcaster ERT reports he fears deportation or extradition to Turkey, where he claims his life is in danger due to an ongoing feud with another gang, possibly involving a contract on his life.
After abandoning the silver SUV used in the shooting, the man was allegedly picked up by an accomplice — a fellow Turkish national living in Komotini — before going into hiding.
The hideout, located in a deserted hut in Kato Vyrsini, just 4 kilometers from the Bulgarian border, was equipped with a solar panel that allowed the suspect to charge his phone.
Police were able to track him down using its signal.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to locate at least two other suspects involved in the incident.