Groups of Supporters From Other European Countries Join Demonstrators in Athens
Dec. 07, 09 (Hamsayeh.Net) - The city of Athens in Greece was the scene of massive anti-government demonstrations by masked youth hurling firebombs and using sticks during street battles with police. This was to mark the first anniversary of the police shooting of a 15 year-old teenager last year.
Thousands of teenagers took to the streets on the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos who was shot last December by the police and sparked massive riots across the country.
Riot police in Athens used tear gas to disperse demonstrators and at least five protestors and several police officers were injured.
Authorities said they arrested over a hundred demonstrators in Athens and other cities but they fear the situation might go out of control and lead to more aggressive riots similar to last year’s.
Greek government issued a statement condemning the killing of the youth and pleaded for calm during demonstrations. ‘The murder of Alexis Grigoropoulos was not only a heinous act, it was a lesson for us all ... an obligation to try and ensure a fairer society for our younger generation,’ Karolos Papoulias, the president of Greece said.
Alexandros Grigoropoulos was shot to death by a police officer who claimed he didn’t intent to kill the young boy but rather fired his shots into the air as a self-defence measure.
There are reports that groups of youth from other European countries are pouring into Greece to joint the demonstrators in Athens and other cities.
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