As thousands of angry protesters had moved to Thessaloniki, the atmosphere was electrified, the incidents inevitable. It started with angry taxi owners trying to overthrow the police security barricades. Riot police was quick to fire tear gas.
Video Taxi owners
Youth threw stones and other items at the police, tear gas was the answer.
I t didn’t take long and the air was polluted by the chemicals in the city’s downtown that had turned into a battle field.
In other part of the city, riot police clashed with Football club Iraklis supporters opposing the downgrade of their soccer club.
Video FC supporters/fires/police
Anger was widespread against the austerity. The frustration gave power to some who managed even to uproot … trees.
Protesters set up fires and some even damaged shop windows.
Video: riot police chasing protesters
Police proceeded to 94 detentions, 6 of them were turned into arrests. According to Greek media, some detention were ‘preventive’ even before the incidents started. There is no information about injuries but some protesters claimed in social media to have beaten by the police.
Taxi owners, football clubs supporters, students, “Indignant” Greeks, members of “I-Don’t-Pay” movement, representatives of public and private sector unions, left parties and anarchists had flocked to Thessaloniki to oppose the strict austerity on the occasion of the 76th International Fair and the presence of Prime Minister George Papandreou. The incidents started at 6 o’ clock in the afternoon and lasted until the early morning hours.
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