Turf war escalates with Athens execution

A deadly shooting on Sunday in the northern Athens suburb of Thrakomakedones appears to be linked to a growing underworld conflict over drug trafficking, according to police. One man was killed and another critically injured when gunmen opened fire as the victims were leaving a local cafe around 1 p.m.

The 47-year-old Albanian victim had ties to organized crime and had been previously implicated in extortion activities. Authorities believe he may have been a target in a larger feud between criminal groups seeking control of the drug trade in the region. The second victim, a 45-year-old with a fake identity, also had known connections to the "Greek Mafia."

This shooting follows a similar assassination in May in Vyronas, southeastern Athens, fueling speculation the two incidents are linked.

The critically injured victim remains hospitalized, while the shooters...