Scenes that seemed to come straight from a thriller were noted in crowded downtown Athens in a shootout prior to the police’s apprehension of wanted fugitive Nikos Maziotis yesterday. CCTV footage from a taverna in Monastiraki shows the mayhem on the street outside as customers enjoying their food were suddenly gripped by a sense of horror.

The man running in front of the taverna’s window is Mr. Maziotis, followed by gun shots. Panic ensues. Diners fall to the ground as do the police in an effort to protect themselves from the open fire.

The shootout caught the attention of the global media who screened footage from the scene.