An armed 45-year-old man on Monday surrendered after barricading himself at a state drug rehabilitation center (OKANA) in Chania, Crete and shot at police demanding that authorities renew his kiosk license.
According to locals, the man is an addict going through rehabilitation and has five children. He demanded to speak to the Chania mayor to ask him to revoke a decision to demolish his kiosk and renew his license because he has five children to feed.
Police surrounded the premises and the man shot at them. Police shot back at him and injured him in the leg. The gunman did not hold hostages, even though there were three OKANA employees in the building who had locked themselves in an office.
The mayor told ANT1 television that the gunman was operating a kiosk with a disability license. Once he was no longer disabled, his license expired and he continued to operate the kiosk for 10 years without a license. Once the 10-year grace period expired, the kiosk had to be demolished the mayor said.
“We have given him extensions before because this man has children to feed,” the mayor explained.
A Hellenic Police specialist negotiator, relatives of the 45-year-old and the city mayor were on site trying to convince the man to surrender. After authorities gave him a written statement that his kiosk will not be demolished at least before the summer season ends, the man surrendered and was transferred to the hospital.
The mayor said that municipal authorities will look for a place to relocate the kiosk after the summer.
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