A 28-year-old Danish tourist was arrested on the island of Rhodes for taking down and thrown away a Greek flag from a public building. The woman was drunk during the incident and she resisted her arrest thus injuring a police office.
The incident took place in the early morning hours of Saturday when the Danish tourist was passing by the Rhodes Crime Investigation & Prosecution Sub-Directorate. There is a Greek flag hanging outside the building, the 28-year-old removed from it from its place and holding it in her hands she started running away.
A passerby reportedly saw her and informed a police patrol that proceeded to arrest her, located the flag thief a few meters away and the flag thrown away on the street.
During her arrest, the woman became aggressive and violent, insulted the officers and before they managed to immobilize her, she injured a police officer by punching him in the face, spat on him and kicking him in the right knee.
She was ultimately handcuffed and taken to police station.
A forensic examination was ordered by order of the competent authorities for the injured police officer, in order to determine the severity of the injuries he suffered during the incident. At the same time, the police authorities proceeded with the appropriate procedures for taking statements and forwarding the case file to the Rhodes Criminal Court Prosecutor’s Office.
Information indicates that the woman was allegedly in a state of confusion and intense agitation, although it is not known whether she was under the influence of alcohol or other substances. The results of the relevant tests are awaited. The authorities are examining all possibilities, while the act of removing and throwing the Greek flag is considered particularly offensive and may result in more serious criminal charges.
The case file filed against her includes charges of insulting a national symbol, resistance, insulting and causing bodily harm to a police officer on duty.
The Danish tourist was scheduled to be taken to prosecutor on Monday.
According to some other media reports, the woman is 34 years old.
