Alket Ritaj implicated in shooting at beach bar in Anavyssos
Well-known Albanian criminal Alket Ritaj was identified from video footage in the shooting incident at a beach bar in Anavyssos. Two workers were injured; he escaped.
Ritaj in Anavyssos shooting — identified by security cameras
Alket Ritaj, an Albanian criminal and former associate of Vasilis Palaiokostas, is implicated in the shooting incident that occurred at a beach bar on Athenian–Sounion Avenue in Anavyssos, according to latest information from ERT.
The Immediate Response unit received a call about shots fired at the location a quarter past five in the morning. Police officers who arrived at the scene found no one present, only two shell casings and bloodstains.
From analysis of video footage, which became possible only late in the afternoon, authorities determined that Ritaj was at the beach bar at the time of the incident. It is noted that he had been released on leave from Domokos Prison.
Timeline of the altercation
According to ERT, at a moment when most people had already left the establishment, the owner lowered the music. Ritaj, who was there with two friends, went to the car park and turned up music loudly in his car. The owner came outside and made a remark to them, fearing that the noise would prompt a call to the police.
The situation escalated into a physical confrontation, with other people coming out of the establishment. During the altercation, Ritaj appears to have drawn a weapon and was loading it. At that moment, an Afghan who apparently worked as "security" for the establishment also drew a weapon and fired at Ritaj. The bullets ricocheted and wounded two other workers.
Two injured, two fugitives
Later, authorities were informed by Kalyvia Health Centre that a 20-year-old Greek with injuries from glass shards to the ankle and a 41-year-old Pakistani with a through-and-through gunshot wound to the calf had come in for first aid. Both turned out to be employees of the establishment. In their statements they gave different accounts of the incident, as did the owner.
Ritaj and his two companions got into the car and fled the scene. The Afghan who is being sought by authorities also fled. So far, the owner of the establishment has been arrested, charged with making a false statement.
In the morning Ritaj was supposed to return to Domokos Prison. His failure to return is equivalent to being declared a fugitive, a fact that has already mobilised the police.
Report: Theodoros Panagiotidis
Source: ERT