What is being investigated in the violent clash involving the death of a 17-year-old in Kallithea?

An investigation and preliminary inquiry by the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime is in full progress regarding the homicide of a 17-year-old late on Wednesday night (24/6), on Megalopoleos Street in Kallithea.

The death of the 17-year-old was the result of a clash between minors and young people. They were all supporters of Olympiacos, except for one who was a supporter of AEK.

Everything happened on Wednesday night, when in a square there was a group of three young people in one spot and another group of six people in another, where the victim was also present. The latter are alleged to have intimidated the group of three.

The three called five other friends, who went there by car, and all together got into a confrontation, resulting in one young man—who has not yet turned 18—pulling out a knife and stabbing the 17-year-old in the chest.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Hippocrates Hospital, where he later died.

From the strong police forces that were called to the scene of the clash, a total of 14 people were detained, while the knife that appears to have been used in the homicide was found and taken to forensic laboratories.

The victim has not yet been identified, while all those involved are expected to be brought to justice on charges related to the fight.

Precisely because they are essentially supporters of the same team, a fan-related motive is being examined, but it is not yet certain. Therefore, other possibilities are also being investigated, with the young people involved not providing the authorities with reasons for the clash.

The perpetrator was identified by the other involved individuals, and he himself admitted the act.

“We saw the guys running and then the child covered in blood”

The violent incident was noticed by shocked residents in the area. Neighbours reported hearing a brief but intense argument, which led many to go out into the street or onto their balconies to see what was happening, where they saw the young man covered in blood.

A female neighbour who was at the scene from the very beginning described what she experienced in a shocking way. As she told Orange Press Agency, “there was a child there, he could have been 16 years old or around that age, he was young.” She also suggested that “it is about fan-related disputes, you know,” claiming it involved a group of supporters who “stabbed him in the stomach and we think he is dead.”

The eyewitness explained that she was immediately next to the victim. “I was there. I was with them there. I was coming with my husband and my baby and we saw the guys running,” she said. Describing the dramatic moments that followed, she added: “We saw him in the street covered in blood, you understand. We tried to help him, but… for about 5–10 minutes we were trying to help him, but then he lost consciousness.” She also stressed that “the police arrived quickly, but the ambulance was very delayed, maybe even more than half an hour.

“A quarrel preceded it, they heard a man screaming”

Regarding how the incident began, the neighbour said: “No, no, I didn’t hear anything, but the neighbour over there was sitting on the balcony and heard a small argument. They heard a man screaming.” Immediately after the scream, residents reacted: “They went out, saw the guys running, and he was already lying in the street covered in blood.”

Finally, the witness confirmed that the perpetrators tried to get rid of the murder weapon before fleeing. “The police also found the knife there, they had thrown it into an old building. They threw the knife away and ran off,” she said in conclusion.