Anarchism in Greece

A group of self-styled anarchists clashed with police in the neighborhood of Exarchia in downtown Athens on Sunday night, causing damage but no injuries.

The unrest began with an attack shortly after 10 p.m. on a riot police unit stationed at the junction of Patission and Tositsa Streets.

A proclamation posted Thursday on a Greek anarchist website claimed responsibility for an attack on the building that housed the bankrupt Lambrakis Media Group (DOL) in the Athens neighborhood of Ilissia last week and encouraged sit-in protests, or occupations, at public buildings and symbols of the "establishment."

Around 20 hooded youths attacked a squad of riot police who were stationed at Tositsa and Patission streets, near the National Technical University of Athens in Exarchia late Friday night.

Self-styled anarchists smashed the facades of more than 40 shops on Ermou Street in central Athens late on Monday night following a protest against the rejection of an appeal by a 29-year-old woman against her conviction on terrorism charges.

Protesters smashed the entrances of stores along the entire length of Ermou Street as well as two bank ATMs near Monastiraki station.

No arrests were made on Thursday after clashes in the downtown Athens district of Exarchia between riot squads and self-styled anarchists resulted in the injury of two police officers, albeit lightly.

Citizens' Protection Minister Nikos Toskas on Wednesday said authorities had banned the union representing Greek police officers, known by its acronym POASY, from holding a meeting planned for Thursday evening in central Exarchia Square, a traditional stronghold for anarchists where police traditionally tread lightly.

Riot police units stationed in the Exarchia district of central Athens were pelted by petrol bombs hurled by hooded youths late Thursday night.

16 people were detained and later released as there was no evidence linking them to the incidents.

Two 17-year-olds and one 18-year-old appeared before a prosecutor on Saturday after being arrested earlier in the day for their role in a series of attacks against riot police in the central district of Exarchia.

Police are seeking a 28-year-old Pakistani national in connection with an attack by anarchists on a riot police unit outside the 1930s refugee housing blocks on Alexandras Avenue in Athens last October, Kathimerini has learned.

One migrant was injured near Victoria Square in central Athens late Sunday following violent clashes between different ethnic groups, according to reports.

A local cafe was damaged during the unrest, reports said.

Police briefly detained 12 suspects over the incident, reports said.

No more details were available.