Police arrest 40-year-old man after gunfire at Thessaloniki cafe on Kassandrou Street
Greek police detained a 40-year-old suspect on Sunday after he fired multiple hunting rifle shots inside and outside a convenience store and cafe in central Thessaloniki following an argument with an employee.
Midday altercation on Kassandrou Street
A shooting incident unfolded in the urban center of Thessaloniki during the midday hours of Sunday, 30 August 2026. The event occurred at a local commercial establishment that operates as a combined convenience store and cafe on Kassandrou Street. According to preliminary information gathered by authorities, the sequence began when a 40-year-old man engaged in an intense verbal dispute with a store employee. The specific reason for the argument remains undetermined as investigators review the initial interactions between the two individuals. Following the exchange of words, the 40-year-old man walked out of the store and temporarily departed the area. His departure briefly de-escalated the situation before he returned to the same commercial address a short time later carrying a hunting rifle.
Discharge of firearm
Upon arriving back at the Kassandrou Street address, the armed individual entered the commercial venue with the firearm in hand. Police reports indicate that the 40-year-old fired two shots into the air within the interior of the cafe and convenience store. The suspect then walked back outside the shop and stood along the roadway on Kassandrou Street. While outdoors, he discharged at least three more rounds into the air, creating severe alarm among patrons, nearby business owners, and passersby. Early local dispatches indicated a total of four gunshots split evenly between inside and outside the store, while subsequent police findings confirmed that the suspect fired two rounds indoors and at least three rounds outside.
- A 40-year-old man argues with an employee inside a shop on Kassandrou Street.
- The man leaves the premises following the argument.
- The suspect returns to the shop armed with a hunting rifle.
- The man fires 2 shots inside the store and at least 3 shots outside in the air.
- Hellenic Police track down the suspect and detain him at the White Tower Police Station.
Police operation and arrest
The discharge of the hunting rifle prompted immediate emergency calls from witnesses, leading to a rapid response from the Hellenic Police. Uniformed officers were dispatched to the Kassandrou Street location to secure the perimeter and protect bystanders in the busy central district. Police forces initiated an immediate pursuit and manhunt across the neighboring urban blocks to intercept the armed suspect before further violence could occur. Patrol officers tracked down the 40-year-old man in the area shortly after the gunfire occurred and placed him under arrest. Following the apprehension, police officers transported the suspect directly to the White Tower Police Station for official booking.
Casualty assessment and investigation
First responders and police representatives reported that no injuries occurred during the gunfire either inside the convenience store or along the surrounding sidewalk. Law enforcement officers secured the crime scene to recover physical evidence, focusing on spent cartridges and the hunting rifle used in the incident. Investigators at the White Tower Police Station are currently conducting interviews with the store employee, witnesses from nearby shops, and the detained suspect to clarify his motives. The 40-year-old suspect remains in police custody under investigation while judicial authorities prepare the formal charges regarding the weapons violation and public disturbance in central Thessaloniki.
