An Australian tourist has been taken to hospital in Greece after being in the firing line of Greek police chasing a terrorist fugitive.
The Australian man was one of four injured in a shootout in central Athens, that included a German tourist, and police officer and the accused fugitive, Nikos Maziotis.
Maziotis has been on the run along with his wife Panagiota Roupa since June 2012 following their release from jail in 2011 after serving the maximum 18 months in pre-trial detention.
Maziotis and Roupa were convicted in absentia last year and sentenced to 25 years for participation in Revolutionary Struggle, a group active between 2003 and 2009 and best known for firing a rocket-propelled grenade into the US Embassy and bombing the Athens Stock Exchange.
The shootout happened in the crowded Monastiraki area on Wednesday and was witnessed by hundreds of bystanders.
Maziotis was shot by police and later taken to hospital to treat his injuries.
The Australian man injured was also taken to hospital with a leg wound, while the German tourist refused hospitalisation for his minor wounds.
The Australian was visited in the hospital by three cabinet members – Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, Health Minister Makis Voridis and Public Order Minister Vassilis Kikilias.
Police Chief Dimitris Tsaknakis said Maziotis fired eight times from a handgun while being pursued and was fired upon and hit once in the shoulder by police.
A group of a few dozen protesters appeared late Wednesday night on the street outside the hospital, chanting slogans and holding a banner in support of Maziotis. They were met by riot police who prevented them from reaching the hospital entrance, and the protesters left shortly afterwards.
Source: news.com.au, ekathimerini