Incidents broke out a short while ago near the Nea Smyrni Police Station, where the march was headed, which was held in response to the violence by police officers last Sunday in the square.
According to the information available so far, the police estimate that more than 5,000 people took part in the march. When they reached the police station, a group broke away from the march and attacked the strong police forces that had been there since early on, throwing Molotov cocktails, flares, stones, and other objects at them. The police responded with the use of chemicals, flash grenades, and water cannons from the special Aiantas vehicle, dispersing the march, but incidents continue in the area.
It should be noted that prior to the incidents and while the march was underway, the police released photographs showing individuals carrying concrete blocks during the march, as well as bags containing Molotov cocktails that had been confiscated prior to the march.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Citizen Protection, it states: «At the rally being held today in Nea Smyrni against police violence, Molotov cocktails have been confiscated by police forces so far, while individuals with concrete bars are also participating, as shown in the photos below.».
At this time, participants in the riots have set fires in various locations in the area, while police officers are pursuing them.
Serious injury to police officer
A police officer was seriously injured by attacks from anti-authoritarians during incidents that broke out in the Nea Smyrni area, on Venizelos Street, in Plastira, and even in Syngrou, with a barrage of Molotov cocktails, flares, and stones. The police responded with tear gas, flash grenades, and water cannons. Nea Smyrni was turned into a battlefield when, as 5,000 people were demonstrating in the central square, about half of them marched towards the Nea Smyrni Police Station and dozens attacked the police forces. As for the seriously injured police officer, whose condition is still unclear according to the information available so far, he is a member of the DRASI team who was attacked by a mob, knocked down, surrounded him, and beat him savagely until he was left unconscious and with serious head injuries.
Regarding the seizures that took place earlier, a relevant announcement states:
At today's rally in Nea Smyrni against police violence, Molotov cocktails have been confiscated by police forces so far, while individuals armed with concrete bars are also participating, as shown in the photos below.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=288084136272820
