Maziotis was injured during the shootout with police and is reportedly undergoing surgery in the Evangelismos hospital. Reports indicate that he suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder-blade. Pictures taken immediately after the shootout show Maziotis lying in a pool of blood with a wig nearby.
A policeman was also reportedly injured as well as two tourists. None of the three are thought to be in any danger.
According to initial reports at about 12.30 in the afternoon Maziotis entered a camping shop at the central crossroads of Ermou and Athinas streets in order to buy a backpack. The shop attendant noticed that he was armed, and notified the police about the suspicious man as soon as he left the shop.
Anti-terrorist police rushed to the scene and located Maziotis who opened fire on the officers in the middle of the crowded street as soon as he realized that he had been spotted. The officers returned fire and Maziotis dove into a taxi in an attempt to get away. However the taxi was immobilized by police who seized Maziotis who had been injured in the right arm in the gun fight.
The injury is reportedly serious with Maziotis having suffered a severed artery. He is currently in Evangelismos hospital undergoing surgery under heavy guard.
One police officer was also reportedly shot in the leg and two tourists suffered minor injuries. One, an 18 year old Australian was treated in hospital for shrapnel wounds to the ankle. Another German was also reportedly injured but refused to be taken to hospital, instead opting to continue with his cruise holiday.
Maziotis also reportedly shot a policeman in the chest with a potential fatality only prevented by the officer's bulletproof vest.
It has been reported that another two individuals were with Maziotis who managed to escape. Police are currently searching for them.
It has been speculated that the three were planning to rob either a bank or jewelry store in the center of Athens but were spotted by police before they could perpetrate the crime.
Who is Nikos Maziotis?
Maziotis was among one of the most wanted men by the Greek police suspected of involvement in robberies and domestic terrorism.
According to Kathimerini, the Greek police believe Maziotis has been involved in 6 bank robberies between May 2012 and March 2014, stealing a total of 15 million euros. Police have also implicated him and accomplices in two murders
Maziotis had been arrested in 2010 together with his companion Panagiota Roupa and several other individuals on suspicion of involvement in the domestic terror group ‘Revolutionary Struggle’ which was behind a number of bombings between 2003 and 2009 (causing mainly material damage as well as several injuries). Maziotis is thought to have been the ringleader of the group.
However the prosecution stalled and Maziotis and Roupa were eventually released, as required by law, following 18 months in pretrial custody. The two were released on the condition that they check in at the police station of Exarchia in the center of Athens three times a month. However in June of 2012 the couple disappeared, embarrassing the police who launched a nationwide man-hunt for the pair offering a four million euro reward for information