Seven arrests on Chios over preparations for Easter rocket war

Police connected the eastbound Aegean Sea land of Chios person arrested 7 radical who were injured successful a occurrence astatine an amerciable fireworks workshop up of an iconic section tradition successful which hundreds of rockets are fired during Easter celebrations.

A constabulary statement Monday said the suspects – six men and a woman – look charges of breaking laws connected fireworks and flares, arsenic well arsenic negligent arson.

All 7 suffered burns precocious Sunday, and 5 required infirmary treatment, aft ingredients they were utilizing to physique homemade rockets for Saturday night’s lawsuit astatine the village of Vrontados accidentally ignited.

The spectacular Easter customized known arsenic the “rocket war” involves youths from two rival parishes successful Vrontados mounting up camps connected elevated positions and aiming rows of rockets astatine religion towers, which person been boarded up successful beforehand arsenic person different adjacent buildings.

They use homemade fireworks consisting of gunpowder-filled tubes attached to sticks that are fired from prepared, tilted bases.

Despite the lawsuit being widely advertized arsenic a tourist draw, police person cracked down connected the preparations, seizing hundreds of rockets recovered stashed successful respective locations.

On Monday, officers confiscated 30 kilograms of chemicals used to capable the fireworks, arsenic well arsenic assorted rocket-making paraphernalia.