Members of anarchist group Rouvikonas splashed paint and fired smoke bombs on the entrance of the residence of US Ambassador in Athens, Geoffrey Pyatt, early on Wednesday.
The members of the group reportedly drove up to the residence on seven to eight motorcycles at 4 o’ clock in the morning. They threw black and red paint, fired smoke bombs and fled immediately after the incident.
Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt tweeted a few hours after the incident:
Kalimera, I woke up to more childish vandalism this morning outside the residence and will continue to work with Greek authorities to punish the culprits according to law. Destruction of property is not peaceful protest.
— Geoffrey Pyatt (@USAmbPyatt) May 15, 2019
Wednesday morning, Rouvikonas claimed responsibility for the attack. In a post on an anti-authoritarian website, Rouvikonas said that the attack was 17. November convict Dimitris Koufontinas “has been denied furlough.” The group uploaded also a video form the attack.
The group accuses the US Embassy for putting pressure on Greek authorities for veto Koufontinas’ furlough.
The US residence is the best secured, police teams on motorcycles arrived immediately on the spot. Similar attacks to the US Ambassador’s residence have taken place already three times in the past.
Police have detained nine suspects.
in a statement, the Greek Foreign Ministry “strongly condemned the vandalism” describing it as “unacceptable and irresponsible action that will not, however, hurt friendship and ever-expanding cooperation between our two countries.”
The statement added that “the competent Greek authorities are already taking all necessary steps to bring the perpetrators to justice.”