Greek Patrol Officer Shot And Killed By Albanian Gunmen

A 43-year-old Greek patrol officer and two men believed to be Albanian nationals were killed on Sunday during a shootout near the Greek-Albanian border. Initial reports in Athens claim that the dead officer was one of three border Greek policemen who patrol the area near the Small Prespa Lake in Florina, northwestern Greece.

In the exchange of gunfire, one of the three Greek officers was killed as was one of the Albanian gunmen. The Greek patrol officer has been identified as Ilias Kostenis, who was a father of a 12 year-old little girl.

Immediately after the news of his death, Minister of Order Nikos Dendias made a public statement, expressing the State's condolences to the immediate family.

The shootout at the lookout, which is used for spotting poachers and unlicensed fishermen, occurred when the officers came across a small hut near the lake. They parked their patrol vehicles several kilometers away, and apparently hiked to the area where they spotted the small hut on foot, in a blistering -15 Celsius weather. Once they arrived they entered the hut and asked the two men inside to identify themselves. Instead of following orders, the two suspects responded by shooting with Kalashnikov assault rifles.

Authorities noted later on that the two gunmen were Albanian nationals.