A 30-year-old man died after being brutally beaten during a bar fight in the city of Patras in western Greece, authorities said, prompting a major police investigation and unrest in the local community.

The fatal incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, January 4, when two groups who were socializing at a nightlife venue in the city center became involved in a heated argument over what police described as a minor dispute. The confrontation quickly escalated into a violent clash.

According to authorities, members of the opposing group repeatedly punched and kicked the 30-year-old man, seriously injuring him. Realizing the severity of his condition, those involved transported him to a local hospital before fleeing the scene.\

The victim, a father and a member of Greece’s Roma community, was taken to the hospital by a friend who had also been injured, though less seriously.

Doctors fought to keep the victim alive, but he later died from his injuries.

Hours after his death, tensions spilled into the streets. According to witnesses, around 50 people attacked a café believed to be linked to the owner of the bar where the fight occurred, causing extensive damage. During the attack, a female employee inside the café fled to a nearby building in fear and was later taken to the hospital in shock. The incident lasted several minutes before those involved dispersed.

Police have identified three primary suspects, all known to law enforcement, including one who is reported to be a competitive boxer. Investigators are also searching for three additional individuals believed to be connected to the incident. In total, eight people—five men and three women—have been taken in for questioning as part of the ongoing probe.

Greek police say the investigation remains ongoing, with witness statements continuing as authorities work to fully clarify the circumstances that led to the deadly altercation and the subsequent acts of retaliation.