Horror shooting at popular Brit tourist hotspot in Greece leaves two dead and injures 10

A long-running feud between two families on Crete has ended in bloodshed (Image: X)

A major manhunt is underway in a popular British holiday hotspot in Greece after two people were shot dead and at least ten others were injured on Saturday. Police believe at least five armed men are currently on the run, hiding in the mountains, canyons, and fields around Vorizia, a small community in Crete. The operation is one of the largest in recent years, with elite police units and prosecutors on the ground coordinating searches across the rugged landscape. 

Since dawn, heavily armed special forces have sealed off the Greek village, blocking roads and stopping every vehicle entering or leaving the area. Residents told local outlet Protothema that officers in full-face hoods and bulletproof vests were "making a fuss over any car that passes by". The village remains in full lockdown, with locals describing a tense atmosphere and growing fears of further violence.

Police remain on high alert, with access to the area restricted to local residents only. Investigators say house-to-house searches could be carried out under a prosecutor's supervision as the hunt for weapons and suspects intensifies.

Vorizia, Crete, where the shooting happened (Image: Google Street View)

Two suspects armed with AK-47 assault rifles and shotguns opened fire on the streets of Vorizia, in the central part of Crete, at around 11am on Saturday. A 39-year-old man and 56-year-old woman were killed during the onslaught, The Sun has reported. Ten others were injured in the shooting and four people were transferred to hospital. 

Police have confirmed that two of the people in hospital are themselves under investigation for their involvement in the shooting. No arrests have yet been made, but those responsible are believed to have fled into a nearby ravine.

A police spokesman said the attack occurred just hours after an explosion at a nearby building site on Friday night. The improvised explosive device (IED) produced a loud bang that witnesses said could be heard for miles. No one was injured, and the only damage was to the building under construction.

Crete has long been home to rival criminal families with histories of vendettas, where disputes can escalate into violence over perceived insults or acts of revenge. Two families in particular had recently clashed over grazing land, a dispute that was later mediated.

But tensions reportedly reignited when a member of one family purchased a house on land owned by another family — the same site where Friday's explosion occurred. Illegal gun ownership is a well-known issue in Crete, with firearms frequently fired to mark major occasions such as weddings and festivals.