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Athens Greece: Actions all over Greece as 16-year-old was shot dead by policeman

Athens IMC exiled | 07.12.2008 06:24 | World

On Saturday 6th of December at around 10pm, two Greek policemen were in patrol in a central street by Exarchia square, in the center of Athens. They had a verbal argument with some young people who were there. During the argument, one of the cops pulled his gun and shot a 16-year-old guy twice. The victim was moved to Evangelismos Hospital to be found dead. According to eye-witnesses, the cop had been swearing against the young man, showing his genitals, before shooting him.



In a spontaneous response, thousands of people gathered in the centers of most of Greek cities. In Athens, people gathered outside Evangelismos Hospital, in order to prevent the cops from entering the building. A little later the riot police attacked in a street in Exarchia resulting to one person being arrested. The evening in Athens evolved with a spontaneous assembly in the Polytechnic University, a lot of riots in the whole center of Athens, including attacks against police departments and banks, until the early hours of the next morning. Meanwhile, a spontaneous demonstration took place, but it was confronted by the riot police with tear gas. Three more University building, the Economic, the Pantion and the Law School have been occupied.

Rallies, demonstrations, direct actions and riots took place all around the country. In Thessaloniki, a big spontaneous demonstration took place, while 2 Police Departments were attacked, several bank departments were burnt and Egnatia str., the main street, was block by burning trash bins for hours. Reports have been also posted about actions in Yannena, Iraklio [photos], Chania, Komotini, Mitilini, Xanthi, Serres, Sparta, Alexandroupolis and Volos.

Demonstrations in all cities of Greece have been announced for tomorrow afternoon, starting at 1pm.

According to the mainstream media, two Ministers offered their resignation, but it was not accepted by the Prime Minister. The two policemen have already been detained and accused for murder, while they insist that the bullet was shot on the air to keep the young men away, but it was reverted by a metal label towards the stomach of the victim.

Photos:  http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=en&article_id=933804
Photos:  http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=933717
Video:  http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=en&article_id=933514



Athens IMC exiled

Additions

Damage Count: "We’ve never seen anything like this,"

07.12.2008 13:25

Athens police said in a statement rioters damaged or burned; 31 stores, nine bank branches and 25 cars. The damaged vehicles included six patrol cars parked outside the Acropolis Police Station in central Athens.

Twenty-four police were injured by objects thrown at them and were treated in hospitals, one remained hospitalized Sunday morning. Six people were arrested, five of them for theft from damaged stores and one for carrying a weapon, it said.

"We’ve never seen anything like this,” said a senior police official who requested anonymity because of his involvement in the investigation. “The tension is so thick you can almost cut it with a knife.

A demonstration was planned for later Sunday [today] in central Athens, and another was being planned for Monday.

Source: AP & NY Times

still rioting


Comments

Display the following 2 comments

  1. Police violence in Athens continues — newcastle-athens solidarity
  2. Rise against them — Pidis