The Greek FBI is “sweeping” the village and surrounding area in Borizia, Heraklion following a vendetta that appears to have erupted in the region after the death of a 39-year-old man who was killed in an armed incident on Saturday morning (01/11). Investigations by authorities and testimonies from local residents seem to confirm scenarios suggesting the reigniting of the vendetta stems from a months-old complaint by members of one family regarding livestock theft, which resulted in the imprisonment of members of the other family. Specifically, village residents not necessarily involved with the families, speaking to SKAI, revealed they are well aware of the incident that led to the October 31st massacre.
Borizia Heraklion: “The families had animosity between them”
“The families had animosity between them. One member of one family is in prison right now for theft. So they planted a bomb at the house of the son of the one they thought was to blame for getting him imprisoned. One member was threatening to leave the village because he would take mutual action, which is exactly what happened,” a Phaistos resident explained characteristically. “We were like separated people. The grazing lands divided us, they also wanted the house. The one who took it wanted to stay, not to sell it,” stated another witness who is related to those involved in the vendetta. As it appears, the authorities have a long road ahead to collect “door-to-door” testimonies from area residents, as there seem to be people who know how the motives were reignited and who had threatened retaliatory actions.
Police announcement regarding the Borizia massacre
“Following yesterday’s (01-11-2025) announcement, within the framework of the ongoing investigation by the Heraklion Crime Detection and Investigation Sub-Directorate, with assistance from the Phaistos Police Department, it was determined that -6- individuals were involved in the armed incident in a settlement of the Heraklion Regional Unit in Crete, including the 39-year-old deceased and two wounded who continue to be hospitalized under guard. In this context, the two wounded (25 and 30 years old) were arrested, while -3- more individuals (19, 25 and 29 years old) are being sought. Simultaneously, from early morning hours today, a police operation was implemented by special forces from the Organized Crime Unit, EKAM special forces, and Heraklion Police Directorate, during which searches were conducted at -10- residences.
From the searches, among other items, a military rifle with magazine, double-barrel shotgun, -2- carbines (one without serial number), -145- cartridges and -9- knives were found and confiscated, which will be sent for laboratory examination. For the discovered items, separate case files were formed by the Phaistos Police Department or were linked to the case under investigation, while a 54-year-old was arrested and an additional person was brought in for questioning regarding the case. The case file formed for homicide in conjunction with weapons law violations, dangerous bodily harm, property damage and explosion was submitted to the competent prosecutor’s office for further action. The investigation continues and any developments will be followed by updated information.“
See photos and videos from the authorities’ findings in Borizia Heraklion:
Borizia Heraklion: Criminal charges for premeditated murder filed against two wounded at hospital and three wanted suspects
The two wounded from the bloody incident in Borizia Heraklion, who are hospitalized under guard at PAGNI hospital, face serious charges, along with three others from the same family who are wanted. Specifically, felony criminal prosecutions were filed Sunday afternoon (2/11) against them for premeditated murder of 39-year-old F.K., as well as attempted serial murder.
According to information, the case file for the massacre was sent today, Sunday (2/11) to the prosecutor by police, which includes five people as defendants for involvement in the bloody confrontation. These are the two wounded hospitalized under guard at PAGNI, the 25-year-old brother of the 27-year-old owner of the house where the bomb exploded, and another Borizia resident, aged 26, as well as three others from the same family.
According to police, all five were identified as involved in the gunfire exchange, based on testimonies and other preliminary investigation material collected by the responsible officers. Based on the case file compiled by police, felony criminal prosecutions were already filed by the prosecutor against the two wounded and three wanted suspects for premeditated murder and attempted serial murder. The two wounded were given a deadline to testify on Thursday. The prosecution is general, while the investigation will continue to clarify each person’s role in the case.
Police consider it certain that other individuals from both families are involved
As police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou told ERT, police consider it certain that other individuals from both families are involved, but there are no specific testimonies so far. For this reason, investigations are in full progress, not only in the village but also in other points in the area that could be used as hideouts.
Simultaneously, the investigation into the explosion at the under-construction house, which served as the trigger for the tragic events that followed, is ongoing. As Ms. Dimoglidou said, so far there is no evidence showing that either family was behind the explosion, and officially, the perpetrators remain unknown. However, the site has been thoroughly investigated and evidence has been taken by the Explosive Device Disposal Unit, which has been sent for analysis.
It should be noted that a prosecutor and investigating magistrate went to PAGNI after 4:30 for the filing of criminal charges and deadline for testimonies. Both wounded, who are held in the special ward, appear to be recovering very quickly. For the 25-year-old, there are testimonies in the case file showing him opening fire with his brother at houses of the Kargakis family after the bomb explosion, while there also appears to be testimony about “firing” even at police officers during an inspection of the “shooting” at Kargakis family houses.
Borizia Heraklion: What the autopsy revealed about the 39-year-old
New details are coming to light regarding the death of the 39-year-old man who was killed in the armed incident in Borizia Heraklion on Saturday morning (1.11). According to autopsy results, the man received a total of four gunshots, which proved fatal. The body bears wounds to the left leg, a through-and-through wound to the left shoulder, as well as gunshots to the left thoracic area and coccyx. The findings show that the bullets came from two different calibers, indicating that the 39-year-old was shot by two different weapons.
The 39-year-old’s funeral will take place Monday afternoon. The funeral was originally scheduled for today, however the 39-year-old’s body was transferred earlier in the morning from Venizeleio Hospital Heraklion to PAGNI for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. However, because the procedure was delayed, it was postponed, with information indicating that the father of many children’s funeral is scheduled for Monday afternoon, November 3rd.
Timeline of the Borizia Heraklion massacre
As is known, victims of the tragedy in Borizia are a 39-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman. At least four other people were wounded, two of whom are hospitalized under guard. About a year ago, another incident occurred between the two families, which started at a social event and ended in a traffic accident.
Tensions reignited recently when dynamite was placed at a house under construction belonging to one of the two families, causing serious damage. The confrontation reportedly relates to this specific property, as there were objections to its construction next to the other side’s property. Meanwhile, recent arrests for livestock theft by a member of one family further worsened the already tense climate.
During a police inspection for damage to the property, members of the two families met by chance on a village road and exchanged gunfire. Initially, 10-12 gunshots were heard. Everyone rushed for cover. Immediately after, testimonies from police officers trying to locate where they were being shot from say they saw homeowners making phone calls. Two minutes later, the fury of firearms began. In the south of the village, countless gunshots started, with police again trying to take cover as they couldn’t locate the trajectories. According to their testimonies, they felt bullets whistling over their heads. While police and some family members focused on taking cover, gunshots fell like rain with the 39-year-old victim shooting from inside his car, which however failed to protect him. The other victim, the 56-year-old woman, ultimately appears to have been in the wrong place, as the heart attack scenario is ruled out since a bullet was found in her body. The Greek FBI is now called upon to discover whether the 39-year-old received a phone call to start his action, whether he was passing by chance, or if something else happened. It’s clear there were many perpetrators with weapons in hand – after all, police are seeking at least three more men – and it’s also clear they didn’t care at all about the police presence in the village or potential collateral casualties. Alongside investigations, police must manage to permanently stop this specific vendetta, and they by no means consider this an easy matter.
