Yesterday, the events with which parents, relatives and friends used to say goodbye to the newly recruited soldiers on their departure from the port of Heraklion got out of control. Pateras threw a parachute flare, which ended up in a high-speed ship of the line Heraklion – Cyclades – Piraeus, without, fortunately, being injured.

The custom calls for relatives and friends to see off their recruits who go to present themselves at the port of Heraklion, where small celebrations are often held. Thus, since last Sunday, when new recruits began to leave en masse from Heraklion, increased security measures have been taken at the port of Heraklion by the Port Authority, in order to avoid incidents.

On Tuesday evening, however, September 19, the situation got out of hand when a 54-year-old father who, along with other family members and friends of the recruit, was at the port to say goodbye to his son, threw a parachute flare, which, if it fell near the gathered crowd, could have had tragic consequences, according to authorities sources.

The flare, according to Coast Guard sources, fell on the Thunder speedboat, in which at that time only members of the crew were present. Although the flare landed next to the vent, causing smoke to enter the interior of the ship, no damage was caused, and no danger to crew members.

The 54-year-old was arrested immediately for violation of the Flares and Fireworks Act. According to information from ERT, he admitted his act, he claimed, however, that he did not know that what he threw was a parachute flare, but he thought it was a simple flare or smoke generator.

Today he will be brought before the public prosecutor, while the prescribed administrative fine will be imposed on him.