A 35-year-old male, Turkish national, was shot dead on Saturday night, June 13, in Exarchia, one of the busiest neighborhoods in central Athens, as Greek authorities continue their search for those responsible.

The fatal incident unfolded at the intersection of Kallidromiou and Emmanouil Benaki streets, a heavily frequented area that was quickly thrown into turmoil following the attack. The victim was found dead on a staircase at the scene, having sustained gunshot wounds to the head.

According to eyewitness accounts, local residents heard a series of gunshots and immediately alerted police, who arrived shortly afterward.

Preliminary findings indicate that a 9mm handgun was used in the shooting. Investigators recovered five shell casings from the scene, which will undergo forensic examination in an effort to identify the perpetrators and gather further evidence.

Based on the information available so far, authorities are exploring the possibility that the killing may be linked to drug-trafficking activities. Investigators are also considering the scenario that the victim was pursued by one or more assailants before the fatal shots were fired.

The case has been assigned to the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, which is leading the investigation as efforts to locate and arrest the suspects continue.