A Greek border guard was shot in the stomach on Saturday while patrolling the area of the Greek-Turkish border along the Maritsa River. The injuries are not life-threatening. This was reported by "Ta Nea".
Four Greek border guards were on duty along the Maritsa River, where the land border with Turkey runs, when three or four shots were fired from the Turkish side shortly after 6:00 p.m., police said.
One of the bullets hit one of the border guards in the lower abdomen. The injured man was taken to a hospital in the city of Dimotika, where he was operated on, the police said.
Police added that the injured officer is in a stable, non-life-threatening condition.
Greek media reported that police officials believed the shooter or shooters were possibly human traffickers. The officials are not authorized to talk about cases under investigation and have requested anonymity.
A police statement said the bullet was fired from a handgun.
Patrolling officers noticed some movement on the Turkish side, but could not determine how many people were there as their view was blocked by thick vegetation. After a few more border officials gathered at the place, it was not possible to cross.
The border guard is a special division of the Greek police. Illegal migrants try to enter the European Union from Turkey through the Maritsa River, the Greek police remind.