A MASSIVE manhunt is under way in a famous Brit holiday hotspot after two people were shot dead and at least ten others injured.
Police believe at least five armed men are on the run, hiding in the mountains, canyons and paddocks near Vorizia, a small community in Crete.
The operation is one of the largest in recent years, with elite police units and prosecutors on site, coordinating searches through rugged terrain.
Since dawn, heavily armed special forces have sealed off the Greek village, blocking roads and checking every car that enters or exits.
Describing armed officers in full-face hoods and bulletproof vests, residents told local outlet Protothema: “They make a fuss over any car that passes by.”
The village is under a full lockdown, with locals describing a community on edge and fearing more violence.
Cops are on full alert and access restricted only to locals.
Investigators say house-to-house searches may take place under a prosecutor’s supervision as the hunt for weapons and suspects intensifies.
The violence erupted after an explosive device was planted late Friday night at a house belonging to one family, reigniting an old feud between two local clans.
Hours later, gunfire broke out between family members, leaving a 39-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman dead.
Initial reports claimed the woman had died of a heart attack during the fight, but a forensic report later confirmed she was shot.
“The 56-year-old received a bullet from the right side, which pierced her lungs and exited her spine,” a relative told Protothema, adding that the autopsy confirmed a gunshot wound, not natural causes.
Police say the shooters were armed with AK-47s and shotguns, unleashing a burst of fire before fleeing into a nearby ravine.
Two men have since been arrested – both linked to the rival families – while others are believed to be hiding in the surrounding terrain.
The funerals of both victims have been postponed for security reasons, amid fears of further bloodshed.
The head of the Hellenic Police and the regional prosecutor, both wearing bulletproof vests, are overseeing operations on the ground.
Local schools in Vorizia and nearby Zaros will remain closed until Tuesday.
Child psychologists and social workers will also be deployed to support traumatised students once order is restored.
Behind the violence lies a feud that has simmered for years, linked to grazing land and building disputes.
Locals say attempts at peace have repeatedly failed.
Crete has a long history of family vendettas and illegal gun ownership, with weapons often used both in celebrations and conflicts.
