The Police are investigating the possibility that fan motives are hidden behind the episode that unfolded yesterday afternoon at the “Plateia” shopping center in the center of Thessaloniki.

A 31-year-old man, a well-known fan of a football team, was arrested for the case because he was in possession of a knife, while criminal charges were brought against him for carrying weapons.

He was referred to be tried at the Autonomous Single-Member Criminal Court of Thessaloniki, where the case was adjourned and he was then released.

The same defendant was sentenced last May to 4 years in prison, by the Kilkis Joint Jury Court, for involvement in a fan shooting incident.

It was an incident that happened in January 2021, on K. Karamanli Avenue, near the Hippocrates Hospital of Thessaloniki.

Another person (28 years old today) was referred to the bench of the same court and was sentenced for attempted grievous bodily harm to 7 years and 10 months in prison.

For this specific incident, the 31-year-old was found guilty of simple complicity in the above act and was released before the Court of Appeal (as was his co-accused).

Yesterday’s incident at the mall happened when the 31-year-old was in a cafe. According to the case file, he was approached by a group of 4-5 people and then the 31-year-old pulled out a knife to repel them.

At the sight of the knife, people threw chairs at him, while the incident ended when police officers on foot patrol intervened.

The incident was captured by the mall’s security cameras and the footage is being reviewed by officers from the White Tower Department who are conducting the preliminary investigation.