Police in Elis have made eight arrests following an arson attack on a shop in Gastouni. The eight individuals are being detained and questioned, while authorities expect to conduct further investigations into the case. According to ilialive.gr, a fire broke out at the premises in the early hours of Tuesday (05/05), with both the owners and firefighters describing it as a deliberate arson attack.
Gastouni Elis: “The shop cannot be saved after such a massive fire”
“The shop cannot be saved after such a massive fire. They called me in the early hours from Pineiou Police Station, saying the shop was on fire, and I saw broken windows and flames inside. They broke the windows and got inside. They told me they placed some wood behind the shelves and set it alight. I was going to open in five days,” said Christos Sampsonis. When asked if he had any indication of who the perpetrators might be, he said “I can’t say anything or incriminate someone without evidence. The police are doing their job. Based on the previous incident, I believe we have a dispute.”
As he noted, “The shop was half paid in advance and the rest would be paid off through operation. The electrical work was brought in yesterday. Now I really don’t know what will happen. I don’t know if what I’m doing here is right… I don’t know,” said Mr. Sampsonis.
“We won’t find justice anywhere”
The business partner and president of Gastouni Commercial Association, Emmanuel Theodorakopoulos, emphasized that “we were notified in the morning that the shop caught fire. We came here and witnessed all this destruction. Unfortunately, once again – I don’t know how to approach all this – this destruction has put both of us in serious contemplation about whether to continue or not. The man closed his existing business to come to this point and together make a new start to operate and offer something good and beautiful, but in the end… some people took it away from us. From then on… I don’t know. We won’t find justice anywhere,” he commented.
Regarding the extent of damages, he noted that “we haven’t done the financial assessment of the damage, but as everyone can see, it’s substantial.”
“We had no problems”
When asked about who the perpetrators might be or whether it’s connected to the previous incident involving his partner, he mentioned that “I don’t think so, we had no threats. Neither I personally nor Sampsonis. That matter has been considered closed for a very long time. We had no problems.”
Describing what exactly happened, he said “they entered deliberately, broke the door, the window, and set fire to a specific spot. Could it be something else? I don’t think so. The images speak for themselves. And we should consider ourselves lucky we didn’t mourn any victims. Because if the fire had continued with the same intensity, the entire block would have burned and we would have had casualties.”
“The state must take measures”
Regarding the state’s stance, he declared that “of course the state must take measures. We must appeal everywhere. We must do something. Otherwise, if we have to leave Gastouni, let the city become deserted and we go somewhere else. We invested so much money and in the end what will happen? How will we pay off our debts? What happened was clearly personal. It wasn’t a random event. If there’s any solution to be found.
Criminal activity in Gastouni has decreased significantly since the police forces arrived. But I have no other information on this matter. As president of the commercial association, I had many calls from shop owners about violations. Now, however, there aren’t any.”
Pineiou Mayor Alexis Kastrinos was furious after the latest incident involving the arson of a shop under renovation in central Gastouni. “Ask the authorities who’s in charge here. The authorities are the Ministry of Citizen Protection, the Fire Service and all related agencies.
“What do we tell the person who was destroyed today?”
Of course it happened in the most central point of the city, of course this event is very sad. However, we’re waiting to see the findings, the evidence, and for the case to be fully clarified,” said Mr. Kastrinos at the start of his statement.
“The people were destroyed. Imagine if this happens in the most central point of the city, what might be happening a little further out… I must say that there was indeed a tremendous difference with the new force brought by the Ministry of Citizen Protection. However, what do we tell the person who was destroyed today?” he continued.
However, the Pineiou mayor hoped that any rumors would be disproven. “I’m not the one who will prejudge anything. There are competent services for that.” “We all know what happens and where it happens. There are cameras here and nearby… And at some point we must understand that the law must protect property, the person earning their living… everyone. I can’t say where it came from. I don’t know. But it must be clarified and finished. And they must understand that our city cannot be a castle of lawlessness. We’ve said this repeatedly.
However, I emphasize, because honesty must guide public officials, that there is a big difference.
I can’t say that one incident (regarding the kiosk) is connected to the other. However, there are people who obviously did this, that’s my assessment, and they will be found. There’s no chance they won’t be found. We must understand that the law must be upheld. But what law? They go inside and after one day they let them out, etc… What do we tell the taxpaying citizen who suffered such damage today?
What do we tell the people who pay taxes? Who pay their obligations, if what we all think is proven? But we will always speak with evidence…” said Mr. Kastrinos in closing.
