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Anastasia Balezdrova

The police action on the release of the two hostages, who were kidnapped by a former colleague on Thursday at noon, was successfully completed without incidents. Before locking himself in the office of the factory in Komotini, however, the 52-year-old driver Dimitris Manikas shot three people.

He entered the building armed with a hunting gun and headed to the office of the owner Athanasios Andrianopoulos, shouting his name. When facing him, he shot him almost directly.

To disarm him, a Bulgarian worker rushed to him. The 52-year-old wounded him in the legs. Then, the attacker entered the office of the director and locked himself and two former colleagues of his there.
 
The two injured were immediately taken to Sismanoglio hospital in Komotini. In a conversation with its director, GRReporter found out that the two injured were in good condition. Our editor’s office has contacted the mother of the injured Emil, Nikolina Eriyasheva few hours after the incident. Yesterday, she was very upset and worried, but today, she told the story of the tragic events for our readers.

Mrs. Eriyasheva, what is the condition of your son?

Fortunately, Emil is fine. The injury is not small and it will take time to recover. But doctors say the prospects are positive.

What did he told you about the incident?

He did not tell me anything. I work in the same factory and it all happened before my eyes. I saw him shot. Then, I went immediately to the hospital with him.

Tell us about the attacker. He is a former colleague of yours.

No, we do not know him. We started working there after he had been fired. I know nothing about him. I guess he has a mental disease, after last night he wanted someone to bring him his drugs from his home.

Has a similar incident ever happened in the factory since you started working there?

No, nothing like this has happened. The company is stable and we have not had any problems. Apparently, the man is ill and caused such a fuss for that reason.

The police said that the 52-year-old yelled that the owner of the company had promised to take him back to work, but it has not happen eight months after the dismissal.

Occasionally, the former driver wanted to see his first wife, then, his children from his first marriage. Then, he asked for a glass of brandy and shouted that he was not well, because he was taking psychotropic drugs. He also wanted the head of the accounting department, who had informed him about the dismissal, and other colleagues to go to him.

According to sources, Dimitris Manikas was on friendly terms with the owner of the factory Athanasios Andrianopoulos, because they both came from the city of Egio. This was the reason the man to find himself in Komotini and begin working in the specific factory. Some residents of Komotini say he has even been living in the family home in the northern Greek city.