Rough ride for Zoniana police
Three policemen were slightly injured and their patrol cars damaged when residents of the notorious Cretan village of Zoniana attempted to prevent them from arresting a fellow villager who was wanted for attempted murder. The officers were tipped off on Sunday night that the 35-year-old suspect was at a cafe in the village, and moved in to arrest him. However, some 20 villagers who were at the cafe turned against the officers, who had to fight their way out with the suspect. The 35-year-old, who is alleged to have shot in the shoulder a fellow villager who was also the chairman of a local soccer team, in October, was taken to the police station in Rethymnon. In November last year, a police officer was shot in the head during a raid on the village that was part of an operation to crack down on a major criminal ring operating out of Zoniana. The Cretan union of police special guards issued a statement yesterday, saying that the latest incident «does not provide signs of hope for the future.»
