A gunshot rang out in the early hours of Monday in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, leaving a 28-year-old Turkish man fighting for his life in the street — a scene captured in a harrowing audio recording that has since circulated online.
The incident took place around 1 a.m. in a narrow alley near the church of Panagia Faneromeni, a neighborhood in the heart of Thessaloniki. According to authorities, a group of individuals got into an altercation with the young man at a nearby park, which quickly escalated into violence. Seconds later, a single gunshot was fired, and the victim collapsed, bleeding heavily.
A Neighborhood Shocked
The audio document of the incident paints a vivid picture of the chaos that unfolded. Screams of desperation cut through the night’s silence as a local female resident, alarmed by the commotion, attempted to de-escalate the situation — shouting at those involved while simultaneously calling the police.
An ambulance arrived shortly after and transported the wounded man to Papageorgiou General Hospital, one of Thessaloniki’s major public hospitals, where he is currently receiving treatment under police guard. Doctors say he is out of danger.
A Known Figure to Authorities
The victim, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, had applied for asylum in Greece last December. He was also known to Greek authorities from prior incidents.
When questioned by police, the man stated he recognized his attackers, identifying them as fellow Turkish nationals. He told investigators the motive was financial — the two sides had been embroiled in a money dispute.
The perpetrators fled the scene immediately after the shooting and remain at large. Greek police have launched a full-scale investigation and are actively searching for the suspects.
