The incident occurred in an area of the Greek-Turkish border where undocumented migrants often try to enter the European Union. The border guard was shot in the abdomen by an unknown gunman from the Turkish side. The injuries sustained are not life-threatening, and the officer is in stable condition after undergoing surgery. Greek police believe that the shooters may have been human traffickers, but details are limited as the case is under investigation. The patrol officers had detected movement on the Turkish side but were unable to determine the number of individuals due to thick vegetation obstructing their view.
The border guard officers are part of a special unit of Greece’s police tasked with patrolling the Evros River, which serves as the land border between Greece and Turkey. The incident took place shortly after 6 p.m. on a Saturday when the officers heard three or four shots coming from the Turkish side. The injured officer was swiftly taken to a hospital in the town of Didymoteicho, where he underwent surgery. While the exact motive behind the shooting remains unclear, it highlights the risks faced by border guards protecting the European Union’s external borders.
Greek media outlets reported that the perpetrators were likely human traffickers operating in the region, seeking to facilitate the illegal entry of migrants into the European Union. This incident underscores the challenges faced by authorities in preventing unauthorized crossings and ensuring the security of the borders. With tensions persisting between Greece and Turkey over migration issues, the shooting of a Greek border guard serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in managing migration flows and securing international boundaries. Despite the dangers involved, the injured officer is reported to be in a stable condition, with his injuries deemed non-life-threatening.
The Greek-Turkish border has been a major flashpoint for migration-related incidents, with both countries at odds over the handling of migrant flows. The incident involving the shooting of a Greek border guard highlights the volatility of the situation in the region and the need for heightened security measures to protect both border guards and migrants attempting to cross into the European Union. As investigations continue into the shooting, Greek authorities are expected to take additional steps to enhance border security and prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by those tasked with safeguarding Europe’s external borders against illegal crossings.
