Exarchia’s “Helmet Squads” beat ND lawmaker, raid offices with debtors’ database

Another incident of violence by a group of people wearing helmets and hoods occurred on Tuesday evening in Exarchia district of Athens. This time the victim was Vassilis Oikonomou, MP for conservative New Democracy.

The group, some 10 people, entered the restaurant where the conservative lawmaker was enjoying dinner with friends, asked him if it was him after Oikonomou confirmed his identity, they started to punch him.

At some point, the attackers fled and Oikonomou was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for head injuries and some minor fractures.

“Ten ‘gentlemen’ with hoods and helmets walked in the restaurant and started beating me,” Oikonomou told the media adding that they warned him that if he would set foot again in Exarchia, they would “execute him” and that “Exarchia was no place for MPs.”

Exarchia, a district in downtown Athens near the Polytechnic School is famous for being the home of Greek anarchists.

It seems that it is a new phenomenon that a group with helmets and hoods goes around beating people. Two days ago, such a group attacked three ticket controllers inside the Metro station Omonoia in front of hundreds of  scared commuters.

This morning, another group consisting of 15 people, wearing helmets and holding sledgehammers raided the offices of Teiresias in Marousi suburb of northern Athens. They reportedly smashed desks, chairs and computers.

A guard has been allegedly injured.

“Teirasias” is an independent authority with database about the creditworthiness traders and consumers. The service’s “Black List” is actually a database of “insolvent debtors.” Based on Teiresias’ Black List, banks, for example, can reject applications for credits or the issue of credit cards. 

After finishing their “work” the attackers left. Media report that 7 people have been detained but give no further details.

PS the phenomenon of the raiding groups “the Helmet Squads” is certainly alarming. A public discussion should slowly start about the new no-future generation  growing up in Greece, amid economic crisis, unemployment and no perspectives and options.