A violent brawl involving stabbings and gunfire broke out on Friday night at a beach bar in Chalkidiki, leaving three people injured and leading to five arrests. The main participants were a group of Bulgarians, including the Bulgarian owner of the establishment. Authorities are also searching for the individuals who fired the shots.
The shooting that left a 40-year-old man hospitalized with a chest injury marked the climax of an incident that began over a minor issue: the delayed delivery of an order. However, according to voria.gr, there appears to be a deeper conflict linked to disputes among individuals associated with the Bulgarian mafia. This is one angle being investigated by the Polygyros security forces, who are also focused on identifying and apprehending the people responsible for the gunfire, who are believed to be connected to Greek night-time protection gangs.
The fugitives are not Bulgarian, leading the authorities to suspect involvement from Greek criminal circles. This suspicion has prompted the immediate involvement of Thessaloniki’s anti-extortion police. Sources indicate that two of the suspects have already been identified through CCTV footage, which captured them fleeing the scene just before the police arrived.
Among the five Bulgarians arrested by the police, a 41-year-old man is of particular interest. He was not injured but is believed to have strong ties to the Bulgarian mafia.
The ‘Well-Known’ Bulgarian Bar Owner and the Delayed Fish Order
The 55-year-old owner of the beach bar is also under investigation. Both he and the others involved are more commonly known by their first names and associated nicknames. His investment in the well-known beach bar in Chaniotis, which is a hotspot for elite tourism in the summer, has been widely discussed in Bulgaria. It appears he was the primary target of the attack. He was severely beaten by his compatriots and is currently hospitalized with serious injuries, particularly to his face and head, though his condition is not critical.
Authorities are increasingly doubtful that the brawl occurred solely due to the delay in delivering a fish order to the group of seven, especially given the busy and lively atmosphere at the time. However, it is true that the group initially confronted a waiter and then targeted the 55-year-old owner, whom they are accused of assaulting.
In a video released by ANT1, a group of Bulgarians is seen initiating the fight by throwing chairs and other objects. Six people then stormed the establishment, causing the altercation to escalate. Panicked customers fled as the fight spilled outside, where the Bulgarians continued to assault the bar owner even after he fell to the ground, unable to defend himself.
Who Is the “Belgian”?
According to Bulgarian media, all the individuals involved are well-known figures in Bulgaria’s underworld. The area was quickly swarmed by police, who arrested five individuals aged 30, 39, 40, 40, and 45. They face charges of violating weapons laws, brawling, and causing grievous bodily harm.
The five arrested individuals will be brought before the Halkidiki Public Prosecutor, while authorities are also searching for three security personnel who were called to the beach bar for “protection.” One of these security guards has been identified and is currently being sought by the police.
The 45-year-old Alotzeilat Eleftherios, the legal owner of the beach bar in Chalkidiki, who also owns a restaurant in Sofia that is a popular spot for the Bulgarian elite and politicians, is reportedly friends with the 55-year-old leader of the group that instigated the bloody brawl, known as “the Belgian.” Local media describe the “Belgian” as a notorious criminal who should already be in custody, given the charges pending against him in Bulgaria.
The authorities investigating the case have obtained security footage from the bar, which they will meticulously review to determine if there was any prior altercation between the owner and “the Belgian.”
