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Athens is burning; riots all over Greece
Athens IMC Exiled - 07.12.2008 23:31
City centre of Athens devasted and still burning. Riots in all Greek cities after police murdered Alexandros.
Alexandros, killed by police.
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
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| Read more about: anti-fascisme / racisme vrijheid, repressie & mensenrechten | | supplements | | pics | c - 07.12.2008 23:50
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| | pics | c - 07.12.2008 23:51
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| | pics | c - 07.12.2008 23:53
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| | update | c - 08.12.2008 02:42
The day after the murder of the 16yo by the police and after a night of spontaneous demonstrations and fights with the police in various cities; a series of more organized demonstrations took place today. Thousands of people filled with rage and despair took the streets all over the country. Here are some brief reports.
Athens: The demonstration started at 2.30pm, numbered up to 10,000 people and was very powerful. On the way to the police headquarter, numerous banks, governmental buildings, car dealers and fancy cars were attacked and destroyed and some were set on fire. When the demo came near the police headquarter, the road was blocked by riot police and the heavy fights started. The police used huge amounts of tear gas and that you could smell from miles away and the demonstration broke in smaller parts. The cops were running after some small groups. Others stayed and fought back. The part that managed to reach the police headquarter was brutally attacked by the cops, that was around 5pm. From that point on many of the small or bigger groups were fighting the cops in the alleys and head to the universities. 2 more police stations were attacked with rocks and petrol bombs. Fights with the police were taking place on and off around the 3 major universities in downtown athens until midnight while police (plain, riot and undercover cops) are everywhere. There are many people arrested (exact number not known yet) and many people hurt by the cops. Witnesses say that people were beaten up by the cops after being arrested and handcuffed.
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=934936
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=934909
Thessaloniki: The demonstration numbered around 2000 people and on its way 2 police stations were attacked with rocks and petrol bombs. Banks and a ministry were also attacked. There were fights on many occasions, during and after the demonstration. After a point the fights were taking place around the university and kept going for a long time. The police used tear gas and also fired rubber bullets and hit a demonstrator and had to hospitalized.
Volos: The demonstration was heading to the central police station when it found the street blocked by the riot police. Fights broke out and stones and other things were thrown to the cops. The police fired tear gas and the demonstration broke in two. Around 15 banks were smashed.
Patras: The demonstration head to the central police station were the riot cops were waiting. Fights started, rocks were thrown to the cops which threw tear gas in return and garbage cans were set on fire. A car near the police station was set on fire. Banks were also attacked and had their windows smashed. 5 people were arrested.
http://patras.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=2646
http://patras.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=2656
Iraklio: A demonstration of 600 people took place during which 10 or so banks were smashed. Afterwards there participants decided to class with the police, threw rocks and molotov cocktails and made fire barricades on the streets. The police responded with huge amounts of tear gas. People then headed to the central police station which was destroyed last night and attacked it again.
Ioannina: 500 people demonstrated and classed with the police. All the banks on the demo route where smashed. Rocks were thrown to the riot cops. 3-5 people were brutally beaten by the cops and some of them had to go to the hospital and get stitches. There might be 2 arrests
Kavala: There was no demonstration but the central police station was attacked with rocks and petrol bombs. 3 banks were also smashed.
Chania: 250 people headed to the central police station. On their way they attacked on a police bureau, a bureau of the government party and 2 banks. When they reached the police station they clashed with the riot police. Throwing rocks and sticks. They police used tear gas. Afterwards they attacked and broke the windows of 5-6 more banks.
Corfu: The demonstrated of about 200 people reached the central police station where slogans were written on the walls and threw eggs, paint and other objects and smashed some of its windows.
Mitilini: 150 people smashed some surveillance cameras, banks, a ministry and some more governmental buildings. Slogans were written on walls.
Demonstrations took place in other smaller cities such as Kozani, Arta, Tripoli where the people confronted with the police and slogans were sprayed on walls.
A new round of demonstrations is arranged for tomorrow, Monday, in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Karditsa, Larisa, Korintho, Naxos, Arta, Chania and probably more.
In some european cities, gatherings and demonstrations are organized, some in UK, Germany and Netherlands.
| | pics of alexandros | c - 08.12.2008 02:48
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