Two Turkish nationals detained after deadly migrant boat chase

The incident occurred on August 23rd and resulted in the death of a 39-year-old man believed to be from Kuwait.

The Greek coastguard reported that warning shots were fired at the speedboat after it ignored calls to stop and engaged in dangerous maneuvers.

The two individuals have been charged with people smuggling but deny any wrongdoing.

A judge on the island of Rhodes ordered their detention pending trial. The trial date is contingent upon the completion of a preliminary investigation by the investigating magistrate.

In a separate development, a courts-martial process has been initiated against the coast guard officer who fired at the speedboat.

He faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and using a firearm for no reason. In his preliminary testimony, the officer stated that he acted on his own initiative after the speedboat's pilot attempted to ram the coastguard vessel, endangering the lives of the crew.

Greece has been a primary entry point to the European Union for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia since 2015. While the number of arrivals has decreased significantly since the peak of the crisis, thousands continue to risk their lives at sea each year.