Investigations by authorities to locate the perpetrators of the murder of Giannis Lalas – known as “the Cook” – are in full progress. He had been accused of the murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz but had been acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Initial assessments indicate that this is yet another contract killing and the execution of the 41 year old is part of the Greek Mafia war.

How the execution of Giannis Lalas happened

The victim, who was in Arachova at the time of the murder, was wearing black shorts. He was on the balcony of the hotel with a woman and they were preparing to go eat. He turned his head and according to information he was hit by multiple AK-47 rounds all over his body. The victim collapsed in a pool of blood. The perpetrators appear to have been surveilling him and had good knowledge of the area and the hotel.

It was not the first time Lalas had been targeted – last May there had been an assassination attempt against him outside the house where he lived in Ano Liosia. Giannis Lalas was the right hand of “Edik”, the leader of the cigarette mafia, who is currently wanted.

A unit from the extortion squad has gone to the scene of the execution, while authorities are conducting a crime scene investigation and collecting shell casings. A burned Jeep was found in the wider area.