“ Organized crime behind the liquidation of a journalist specializing in Greek crime ”

Greek authorities suspect that organized crime is behind the liquidation of famous crime journalist George Karaivaz.

This is what Deputy Minister Economou of Civil Defense, who has the fight against crime in his portfolio, told the public channel ERT. He says there is an “open war” between rival gangs, citing the spate of contract murders in recent years as an example.

Funeral

Karaivaz may have been the victim of such a contract murder, the Greek media write, although the deputy minister stressed that the motives for Karaivaz’s murder are still unknown. This afternoon, the journalist was buried in his hometown of Kallifytos, in northeast Greece.

Karaivaz worked for the Star TV commercial channel and blogged. He has regularly focused on organized crime and corruption.

Hit by ten bullets

The journalist was reported near his home in Athens on Friday beaten down. We now know that he was hit by ten bullets. Investigators suspect professional contract killers to be behind the murder; Karaivaz was shot six times in the chest and twice in the head.

Police have surveillance footage showing gunmen, Greek newspaper reports Ekathimerini. It shows how two men go on a scooter after the liquidation.

Further investigations are underway on the journalist’s phone, blog and computer. Greek police already announced on Friday that it appears the liquidation was carefully planned. For example, the perpetrators reportedly waited for Karaivaz at his home for about 10 minutes. They knocked when he got out of his car.