Violent scenes resembling a Wild West standoff unfolded Monday afternoon in Aspropyrgos, when a group of young Roma clashed with ethnic Greek returnees from the former Soviet Union. The altercation escalated into a hail of bullets.

Greek police (ELAS) arrested two young men, aged 26 and 23, involved in the incident. Both have extensive criminal records, including charges for robbery and attempted homicide.

During the investigation, officers discovered a loaded pistol hidden among cinder blocks, as well as a shotgun and cartridges concealed in a roof cavity.

The suspects were arrested inside a Roma settlement in Aspropyrgos. Charges against them include:

• Attempted homicide and aggravated assault (jointly and repeatedly)
• Threatening behavior
• Damage to private property
• Illegal possession of weapons
• Verbal abuse, and
• Possession and disposal of stolen goods

Timeline of the Incident

The confrontation began on August 4 when a 38-year-old Greek truck driver and three others had a traffic-related argument with another group in Aspropyrgos. The altercation turned violent, with attackers wielding metal objects and injuring the victims, who then fled to a nearby business they own.

Shortly after, three individuals – including the 26-year-old suspect – drove to the business and opened fire, causing damage to the building, the victims’ vehicle, and a neighboring home.

Police from the Aspropyrgos Crime Division, assisted by the OPKE tactical unit, identified the suspects and arrested them on August 5 inside the settlement.

Weapons Recovered
From searches at their homes, police seized:

• A pistol with magazine
• A replica pistol
• A shotgun reported stolen in Nafplio
• 10 cartridges

The pistol and magazine were hidden among cinder blocks near a sewage pipe, while the shotgun and cartridges were found in a roof stash.

Extensive Criminal History

The 26-year-old has a long record, including:

• 2025: Sentenced to 13 years and 6 months in prison and fined €2,500 for robbery and theft (jointly committed). Also charged this year for:
  • Driving without a license
  • Violence against officials
  • Insulting behavior
  • Disobedience
• 2024: Charged with theft, reckless driving, and driving without a license
• 2023: Theft and assault on officers (jointly committed)
• 2022:
  • Violence against officials
  • Disobedience
  • Driving without a license
  • Jointly committed theft
  • Incitement to crime or violence
• 2021: Incitement to crime or violence (jointly committed)
• 2020: Driving without a license
• 2019: Robbery and theft (jointly committed), and traffic violations

The 23-year-old also has a criminal record:

• 2025: Insulting behavior, threats, disobedience
• 2024: Jointly committed theft
• 2020: Attempted homicide, robbery, and illegal possession of weapons

The 26-year-old was under court order to report to his local police station on the 1st, 10th, and 20th of each month but failed to appear on six occasions. The 23-year-old has complied with his restrictions.

Both were taken before the Prosecutor, while police continue searching for others involved in the incident.