Τhe majority of rioters who attacked the police station and injured the police officer in Nea Smyrni on Tuesday were organized football hooligans and not supporters of main opposition party left-wing SYRIZA.
This comes from Greek Police sources based on the arrests they have made, so far.
80% of the rioters were hooligans and 20% anarchists, Skai TV reported on Thursday.
Wednesday afternoon, police arrested the man they believe that he pushed a police officer off his motorcycle during the clashes. The suspect, identified as a 30-year-old Greek Iraqi, was arrested in a warehouse in the town of Magoula, western Attica, where he works. He has a previous drug-related arrest. Initially it was said that the man was working at a big football club.
A second man in his early 20’s of Albanian origin was also arrested on Wednesday,
On Thursday morning, two more people, Greeks aged 22 and 23 years old, were also arrested in connection with the clashes in Nea Smyrni. According to police sources, the younger of them is a known member of the anti-establishment scene and had been detained for the recent attack on the office of Alternate Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis.
A total of 16 people were arrested on Wednesday , while police is still seeking other individuals in connection with the incidents.
What is interesting is that football hooligans including forma local FC had already made known on social media posts that they would join the rally against police violence.
Citing police sources, kathimerini notes that hooligans from four different groups in Athens played a central role in the violent events.
In their social media posts, the hooligans said they were putting aside their sports club loyalties and differences to join forces for one reason only: to attack the police.
“An account of an organized fan club of another Attica team published a photo from the gathering in Nea Smyrni against the backdrop of a banner with the slogan “Democracy dies in the place where it was born” and the acronym “ACAB” (All Cops Are Bastards), the conservative newspaper notes.
The said photo’s caption read: “Smyrni is only the beginning! You will find us in front of you!” Other fan club posts expressed similar aggressive sentiments and threats of more violence to come.
What is more interesting – this time politically – is that the Prime Minister blamed SYRIZA for the violent events and thus in a video message right after the officer was injured and the clashes were ongoing even though with less tension.
Good morning!
I find your blog witty and useful to better understand social and political life in Greece when you are a foreigner – like me, and I find here the chance to thank you for your work.
Today I have a question: while reading this article, I was wondering why you referred to the country of origin or ethnic background of the persons arrested after the attack of the police station in Nea Smyrni? What does the origin of someone change to their acts? And why is it, to your opinion, worth mentioning it?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!