ATHENS – A major police operation against drug dealing and other criminal activities led to shots being fired in the Athens district of Zografou in the early hours of Tuesday morning, injuring a 30-year-old Albanian man with a lengthy police record, while nine people were placed under arrest. A 35-year-old police woman has also been taken to hospital.

According to the Hellenic Police, the operation was launched at 6:00 on Tuesday morning in an old student residence building, in the presence of a public prosecutor, with simultaneous raids on the homes of suspects for criminal activities.

Police had reason to believe the student residences were being used as a base and hideout by criminals responsible for robberies and drug dealing in the areas of Zografou, Kaisariani, Vyronas and central Athens.

During the operation, a 35-year-old police woman felt unwell and withdrew but was attacked by the 30-year-old as she was departing, which resulted in the officer injuring him with her service revolver.

The Albanian man has four outstanding arrest warrants for robberies, weapons violations and drug offences. He was taken to Erythros Stavros Hospital and is being treated under guard. The police woman was taken to the 401 General Military Hospital in Athens.

According to police sources, nine people have been arrested so far.

A detailed briefing on the operation, which involved several branches of the police force, is to take place once the operation has been completed.