A shooting in the village of Vorizia on the Greek island of Crete Saturday left two people dead and at least six others injured, authorities reported. The incident, which occured approximately 52 kilometers (32 miles) south of Heraklion, has prompted a notable security response and an examination into its origins.
The violence appears to stem from a long-standing dispute between two local families, escalating recent tensions following an explosion Friday night at a construction site. While such family feuds are not uncommon in rural Crete, often revolving around land rights and traditionally resolved through mediation, this latest outbreak has resulted in fatalities and raised concerns about public safety.
Police confirmed the victims were a 39-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman. Six additional individuals were transported to local hospitals with injuries of varying degrees of severity, according to a statement from emergency services EKAB.
Two of the injured men are currently hospitalized and under police guard as authorities investigate their potential involvement in the shooting. A preliminary investigation has been launched, and a large contingent of security forces remains deployed in Vorizia.
Local media reports indicate the feud was recently reignited when a member of one family purchased land in an area traditionally controlled by the other, leading to the Friday night explosion at the newly constructed home. Previous conflicts between the families, linked to grazing lands, had been previously settled through private mediation.
