Albanian Criminal on Prison Leave Linked to Beach Bar Shooting 

Greek authorities are investigating the alleged involvement of convicted criminal Alket Rizai in a shooting incident at a beach bar in Anavyssos, south-east of Athens, in the early hours of Sunday.

Rizai, who was reportedly on prison leave from Domokos Prison, was due to return to custody on Monday morning, September 14. Authorities are now searching for him following the incident.

According to police and witness accounts cited in the report, Rizai was at the beach bar with a group of friends. When the venue stopped playing music because of the late hour, the group moved to the car park and played loud music from their vehicle.

The owner reportedly confronted them, leading to an argument that escalated. Other customers came outside as the confrontation intensified.

According to witness accounts, Rizai allegedly pulled out a gun and fired into the air.

An Afghan national who worked at the venue allegedly became involved in the confrontation, reportedly drew a gun and fired towards Rizai.

Two employees were injured during the shooting. A 20-year-old Greek man suffered an ankle injury from broken glass, while a 41-year-old Pakistani man suffered a bullet wound that passed through his calf.

Police received a call at around 5:15am reporting gunshots at the venue. When officers arrived, they found two shell casings and blood stains, but the people involved had already left.

The Kalyvia Health Centre later informed police that the two injured men had arrived there for first aid.

Police took statements from the injured men and the venue owner, although their accounts of what happened reportedly differed significantly.

Rizai was on prison leave

Analysis of video footage established Rizai’s presence during the incident, according to authorities.

He had received leave from Domokos Prison and had been outside the correctional facility at the time. After the incident, Rizai and two associates reportedly left the scene in a car.

He was due to return to prison on Monday morning, September 14. Authorities are now searching for him.

Who is Alket Rizai?

Rizai first came to the attention of Greek police in the early 1990s in connection with drug-related cases.

In 2003, he was convicted of the murder of Thanasis Koropiotis, whom he believed had entered into a relationship with his girlfriend. Following a dramatic arrest at an apartment in Nea Filadelfeia, he was convicted and spent three years in prison.

Helicopter escapes with Vassilis Paleokostas

Rizai became widely known in Greece after escaping from Korydallos Prison by helicopter with Vassilis Paleokostason June 4, 2006.

While a fugitive, he was accused of killing 43-year-old Konstantinos Koutelieris and 36-year-old Ioannis Katsios in Peristeri on August 26, 2006. Police arrested him a few days later.

On February 22, 2009, he escaped from Korydallos Prison again by helicopter. Authorities recaptured him several months later in Grammatikos, together with his partner.

In 2013, Rizai made a third escape attempt, taking five prison guards hostage at Malandrino Prison. After 24 hours of negotiations, he surrendered to police.

In January 2021, police arrested him after a random traffic stop found him travelling in a car with two other dangerous criminals. He had been on a five-day prison leave at the time.

Rizai is serving two life sentences imposed by the Piraeus Court of Appeal for Felonies for the killings of Koutelieris and Katsios. He also received a combined 25-year prison sentence for his helicopter escape from Korydallos Prison.

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