The taxi driver involved in a violent altercation with a car rental employee on the Greek island of Paros has given his own account of the incident. The attacker, who was subsequently fired following the assault, spoke to Alpha TV claiming that the victim initiated the confrontation by hurling insults at him and striking him first with a helmet. “He was swearing, shouting, and hit me with the helmet he was holding,” he stated. When asked whether the car rental employee had attacked him first, he replied: “Well, of course — did I go attack him first? I didn’t want this, because of my position. I’m there every single day, you know?”
The dispute over the taxi stand
According to the taxi driver, tensions had been building for some time over the use of the designated taxi stand area. He claims that only taxis, police vehicles, and ambulances are permitted to enter the zone. However, he alleges that the car rental company employee — whose business is located nearby — routinely allowed company vehicles and customers to use the restricted space. “That’s a taxi stand, as you’ve gathered, and only a police vehicle, an ambulance, or a taxi is allowed in there. Nothing else,” he said. He further claimed that the employee was “letting cars pile in” and directing rental customers to park there when returning vehicles, causing serious congestion for taxis. The driver also argued that the presence of non-taxi vehicles at the spot led other tourists to believe they were free to park there as well.
“He’s very aggressive and provocative — he always causes trouble”
The taxi driver also described the rental employee as “aggressive” and “provocative,” claiming he consistently causes problems for anyone who approaches him about the parking issue. “Anyone who has ever gone up to him and spoken to him politely — he is very aggressive, very provocative, and always causes trouble,” he said.
“Of course I regret it — but he attacked me first”
The taxi driver expressed remorse over the incident and the footage that had gone viral, acknowledging it reflected badly on the island and the taxi profession. “Of course I’m sorry it happened. It’s a very bad image for the island, for taxis, and for everything in general. This is not a good look at all,” he said initially. While claiming to be remorseful, he continued to insist that the car rental employee was the aggressor. “I certainly didn’t want to get into a physical fight with an older man. Of course I regret it — but I want you to know that he attacked me first, verbally and physically, with his hand and with the helmet he was holding. He hit me first and pushed me to that point,” he concluded.
