Riots erupt in Athens on anniversary of police shooting

By Tony Rigopoulos

ATHENS (AA) - Violence erupted late Wednesday in an Athens district following demonstrations marking the anniversary of a student’s death.

Thousands of young men and women gathered in Athens late in the afternoon and marched towards the Greek Parliament in an initially peaceful demonstration.

They chanted slogans against police and mourned the young boy who was killed.

On Dec. 6, 2008, 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos was shot dead by Epaminondas Korkoneas, a 37-year-old police officer, after officers approached a group of boys in Athens’ Exarcheia district and allegedly provoked them. A verbal exchange ensued which led to the boy’s murder.

After the demonstration concluded, around 200 protesters faced off with riot police in full gear.

Hooded protesters threw stones, flares and Molotov cocktails at police forces. According to eye witnesses, some of the objects were also thrown from nearby apartments. Three vehicles were also set on fire. The police responded with teargas.

The riots started around 8 p.m. local time and lasted for more than three hours.

According to local media, five people were arrested and 25 were detained.

Another demonstration had taken place earlier in the afternoon. High school students had gathered and marched in the city center. Earlier, they visited the spot where Grigoropoulos was shot and paid tribute. Some riots also took place after the demonstration.

Grigoropoulos’ death triggered the worst riots seen in the Greek capital since the fall of the Greek dictatorship in 1974.

The latest violence comes a day before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives in Greece for a two-day official visit.