A Turkish fishing vessel transporting migrants opened fire on a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol boat near Lesvos early this morning, according to an official statement by the Coast Guard.
The incident occurred near Agios Fokas, south of Lesvos, when the patrol vessel was alerted that a fishing boat was disembarking foreign nationals on the shore. Upon arrival, the Greek authorities located the Turkish vessel after the migrants had already been dropped off.
During the approach, one of the four traffickers onboard the Turkish fishing boat fired a gun at the Greek patrol vessel. The Coast Guard crew responded by firing warning shots in a safe direction, prompting the Turkish vessel to retreat eastward toward the Turkish coastline.
The patrol boat pursued the Turkish fishing boat up to the edge of Turkish territorial waters, while Turkish authorities were simultaneously notified. The Turkish side intercepted the vessel shortly afterward.
On land, 25 migrants were found in the wider area by Hellenic Police units. They were transported to the Kara Tepe “Mavrovouni” Reception and Identification Center. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
An investigation is underway by the Central Port Authority of Mytilene.
This latest episode once again underscores the increasingly aggressive behavior of Turkish fishermen and smugglers in the Aegean, who often violate Greek territorial waters and maritime regulations, causing significant disruption to local Greek fishing operations.
The use of firearms in this case signals a dangerous escalation, suggesting that Greece may need to adopt firmer countermeasures—potentially including the neutralization of vessels that attack its authorities in future incidents.
