Their remand brings the total number of detainees to seven — five members of the Fragkiadaki family and two from the Kargakis family. The latter two, who were being held in Chersonissos, are expected to be transferred to prisons outside Crete for security reasons. Authorities had instructed that no details of their pleas be disclosed.

According to state broadcaster ERT, the 43-year-old exercised his right to remain silent, while his 48-year-old relative submitted a written memorandum denying any involvement in the attack — a claim also made by the other detainees. Both men are relatives of 39-year-old Fanouris Kargakis, who was killed in the clash.

Within the Fragkiadaki family, three brothers have already been remanded on charges of murder and attempted murder, committed jointly and repeatedly. During their defence statements, they denied any role in the killing of Kargakis and claimed they were unarmed. The 29-year-old stated that he acted only to protect his wife, who had given birth eight days earlier. The 27-year-old, owner of the house where an explosive device detonated, said he fell to the ground to shield himself, while the 19-year-old soldier claimed he was asleep when the fighting broke out. All said they fled out of fear for their lives and later surrendered voluntarily to police.

The investigation continues, with authorities focusing on identifying whoever ordered the manufacture and planting of the explosive device, as well as tracing the weapons used in the deadly exchange.

‘Our main goal is to find the weapons used that day. We already have some data and are awaiting the ballistic report to determine how many firearms were involved,’ said police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou.

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