A Greek crime journalist has been shot dead with a silenced weapon by two men on a moped outside his home in Athens.

The veteran journalist, Giorgos Karaivaz, was shot at least ten times on Friday (9 April), according to the results of an autopsy released on Saturday by the deputy minister for citizens’ protection. More than a dozen bullet casings were collected from the scene.

Karaivaz had just returned from his workplace at Private Star TV, when he was murdered. He also worked for the news blog bloko.gr.

Video footage shows the assailants arriving at the journalist’s home ten minutes before the killing, where they waited for him to park his car before executing him.

Killers

Detectives say that a second group may have followed Karaivaz to his home and informed the killers about which route he took.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has set up an investigation into the death of the journalist, which police described as “a professional hit”.

“On [the prime minister’s] express orders, the investigation will be expedited to the maximum degree,” Citizen’s Protection Minister Michalis Chrysohoidis told reporters.

His death “shocked us all,” said a government spokeswoman, Aristotelia Peloni. “The authorities are investigating the case, to ensure the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice.”

Karaivaz had not requested police protection, nor reported any death threats.