Police responds to accusations it took 16-year-old to hospital in cuffs

The Greek Police on Monday responded to accusations of using undue force by taking a teenager who was injured in a botched escape to hospital in handcuffs, saying it was for his own safety.

Sources in the police told Kathimerini on Monday that the 16-year-old was arrested by riot police officers during clashes with self-styled anarchists in the downtown district of Exarchia in the early hours of Sunday.

The teen was being taken by patrol car to central police headquarters (GADA) on Alexandras Avenue, when he pushed the officer escorting him, jumped out of the vehicle and ran out onto the busy thoroughfare, still in handcuffs. In his haste to avoid capture, he reportedly ran out in front of a car that had just set off from a green light. 

According to the sources, when officers and paramedics approached him, the teenager was suffering from shock and was in a highly...