A gun attack unfolded on Wednesday night, targeting 51-year-old Andrea Kalemi, an Albanian businessman. The incident occurred on the Greek island of Paxos where Kalemi was vacationing with his family.

Kalemi sustained gunshot wounds from a hail of bullets, prompting his immediate transfer to Ioannina Hospital in critical condition as he battles for his life.

The scene of the attack yielded a total of 14 bullet casings, with 10 of them striking Kalemi’s body.

Authorities suspect that the assailant, allegedly an Albanian national, had traveled from Italy to execute the assassination. A widespread search operation by land and sea is underway to apprehend the shooter.

Greek law enforcement is exploring the possibility of the attack being an act of revenge, as the Albanian authorities are familiar with the suspected perpetrator.

The businessman had previously been internationally wanted by Belgian authorities in 2001. He, along with his brother, was accused of involvement in the murder of Mevlan and Adriatic Çaça.

In June 2022, another grim incident occurred within the same family circle. Alekësandër Sadikaj, a close relative of Kalemi, fell victim to an explosion on the Tirana-Elbasan highway.

In a possible retaliation for Sadikaj’s murder, an assassination attempt was carried out against businessman Edmond Papa a few months later. The 49-year-old businessman, originally from Fier but living in Saranda, where he also had some businesses to his name, was murdered in a bar in Tirana on December 16, 2022.

The investigation into the Greek attack against Kalemi is believed to be linked to criminal occurrences in Saranda and Tirana.

According to the TIMS system, which tracks border crossings, Kalemi exited Albania via the Kakavija border checkpoint on August 5.