Eight people were arrested in the Greek city of Thessaloniki on Sunday (February 7) for the alleged killing of a 19-year-old supporter of a rival football team.

Authorities had issued 10 arrest warrants for people, all aged 20-23, allegedly involved in the murder of Thessaloniki resident Alkis Kambanos late last Monday.

Mourners today (February 7) placed flowers and other tributes at the scene of the crime.

The 19-year-old died after being stabbed and severely beaten. Two of his friends were also injured in the street attack.

The victim was a fan of soccer club Aris, and his attackers were supporters of rival team PAOK.

The killing has shocked the country and drawn strong condemnation from political leaders.

SOUNDBITE (Greek) Koulis Apostolidis, former PAOK player:
"We have here a purely criminal act, it has nothing to do with the sport and teams who play it. Hooliganism should be seriously treated by state authorities in Greece and a solution must be provided that will allow the smooth conduct of football matches and fan clubs in a sporting context with rules and also penalties."

8 arrested in Greece for killing a 19-year-old of rival football club fan - Defendants confronted at the courts, crowds mourn murder victim at the crime scene (Monday 07/02/2022) . Police in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Sunday arrested eight people for the murder of a 19-year-old in an attack connected to soccer fan rivalry.
Authorities had issued 10 arrest warrants for people, all aged 20-23, allegedly involved in the murder of Thessaloniki resident Alkis Kambanos late last Monday. The 19-year-old died after being stabbed and severely beaten. Two of his friends were also injured in the street attack.
One of the two suspects still at large is known to have fled to neighboring Albania, where his family hails from. Deputy Citizen Protection Minister Lefteris Economou said Sunday extradition procedures will be initiated.
Another suspect, a 23-year-old considered by police to be the ringleader of the group that carried the attack, was arrested earlier in the week and charged with murder and attempted murder.
The victim was a fan of soccer club Aris, and his attackers supporters of rival club PAOK.
In the wake of the murder, police raided multiple soccer fan clubs in Thessaloniki and the capital Athens. Several weapons were confiscated. Police consider these places venues where attacks on rival club fans are organized and, often, drug sales take place.
The killing, in a city which has a heated rivalry between PAOK and Aris, has shocked the country and drew strong condemnation from political leaders.
Police say the intended victims were other Aris supporters, who frequented a nearby restaurant, but that the 11 suspects happened by chance upon Kambanos and his friends on the street and asked them which was their favorite team before attacking them.

Sound bite 02:51 Koulis Apostolidis former PAOK F.C. player: "We have here a purely criminal act, it has nothing to do with the sport and teams who play it (PAOK, Aris, Olympiacos). Hooliganism should be seriously faced by state authorities in Greece and a solution must be provided that will allow the smooth conduct of football matches and fan clubs in a sporting context with rules and also penalties."