At least 20 wounded in shooting in Greece

ATHENS – At least 20 migrant strawberry pickers were shot and wounded in southern Greece on Wednesday, in a pay dispute after a foreman opened fire on them with a shotgun, police said.

The incident occurred near the village of Manolada about 260 kilometres (160 miles) west of Athens.

Police Capt. Haralambos Sfetsos said most of the wounded workers were from Bangladesh. He said the shooting occurred when about 200 workers at the strawberry field demanded six months’ unpaid wages and “moved threateningly” toward three foremen, at least one of whom opened fire.

The owner of the site, who was not present at the time, has been detained for questioning while arrest warrants have been issued for three foremen, who are all Greek.

“The injured have been taken to various nearby hospitals. We have been informed that none of the injuries are life-threatening,” Sfetsos told the AP.

“We have identified the three foremen and are looking for them. They are three Greek men, who live locally.”