A tourist family was assaulted in a bar in Heraklio, Crete, by a group of young locals on Monday night. The family father has been hospitalized with head and face injuries.
The 49-year-old Greek-Canadian man with origin from Anogia, his 41-year-old Icelandic wife, their two sons, aged 21 and 18 respectively and their 14-year-old daughter attacked and brutally beaten by a group of young locals when they left a bar. The victims complained that they were suddenly and unprovoked attacked by a group of young people from the area of Mylopotamos.
According to information by local media cretalive.gr, when the family was leaving the bar, one of the locals pressed a cigarette on the father’s back allegedly “accidentally”.
The father turned to the young man with the cigarette and admonished him to watch his moves “in a nice way” as the family pointed out.
“This seems to have been the ‘spark’ that caused the wrath of the Cretans, who began to furiously beat with punches and kicks not only father and son, but also the 41-year-old woman and the 14-year-old girl, who tried to stop them,” cretalive.gr reported.
The 49-year-old man and one of the two sons of the family were injured and fell on the ground bleeding.
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Ambulances transferred them to the local hospital, while the attackers fled the scene as soon as they saw the victims covered in blood on the pavement.
The family father remains hospitalized also on Friday, his life is not in danger, however, he will need a surgery and longer hospitalization.
Police immediately launched an investigation, primarily evaluating footage from security cameras in the area.
Two of the four assaulters have been identified by the victims through pictures the authorities showed to them.
One is a 31-year-old from Zoniana and another one a 32-year-old from Gazi.
The two attackers as well as the other two who have not yet been identified are on the run. Police is convinced that their arrest is a matter of time.
On Wednesday, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni contacted the hospital’s director to inquire about the health of the Greek-Canadian father, expressing her concern to be conveyed to the family.
With strong bonds to the island, the family said it has been visiting Crete at least twice per year.
What is it about Crete?
The Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni contacted the hospital director to find out the health status of the victim? Why did she not do anything more? Is it because she is godmother to many of the people from Milopotamos and possible the godmother to one of the assailants? This event is very disturbing to everyone not only in Crete but around the world. This type of behaviour from the locals should not be happening and a lessons needs to be taught to these animals as that is what they are. My roots are from the Zoniana, just as a reference.