Gunfight in Anavyssos, Alket Rizai wanted ahead of scheduled return to prison

Greek authorities have been placed on alert following a shooting at a beach bar in Anavyssos, Athens, in which Albanian national Alket Rizai is suspected of being involved. Known in Greece for his high-profile prison escapes and his past ties to the country’s most wanted fugitive, Vasilis Paleokostas, Rizai was out of his cell on leave and was due to return to Domokos Prison.

Police were notified of the shooting at around 5:15 a.m. When officers arrived in the area, those involved were no longer there, while two shell casings and spots of blood were found at the scene.

Later, the Kalivia Health Center informed police that it had treated two injured people. One was a 20-year-old Greek man who had suffered an ankle injury from glass fragments, while the other was a 41-year-old Pakistani man who had sustained a gunshot wound to the calf. Both were employees of the business.

The initial statements given by the injured men and the venue’s owner did not match. However, through video footage, police have managed to piece together a partial picture of what happened.

According to the line of inquiry being pursued, the owner had turned down the volume of the music after most of the customers had left. At that point, Rizai, who was at the venue with two other people, went out to the parking lot and played loud music from his vehicle.

The owner approached him and asked him to turn down the volume, fearing that the noise could prompt police intervention. The argument then escalated into a confrontation, involving other people who had come out of the venue.

During the conflict, Rizai is suspected of having pulled out a gun and fired into the air. A firearm was also used by an Afghan national who came out of the venue and is suspected of working as a security guard. The bullets ricocheted, injuring the two business employees.

After the incident, Alket Rizai left by car along with the two people accompanying him. The Afghan national also fled the scene and has been declared wanted.

The venue’s owner has been arrested on charges of giving false testimony about the incident.

Greek police are also searching for Rizai because his leave has expired. He is due to report to Domokos Prison on Monday and, if he does not return within the deadline, risks being considered an escapee. This has increased the authorities’ efforts to locate him.