Underground culture

The authorities seem to have embarked on a concerted campaign to chart and crack down on organized crime. The results so far, however, demonstrate the need for these efforts to be stepped up. Deadly exchanges between some very dangerous "professional" criminals are becoming more frequent and brutal.

A new nationwide survey shows a significant rise in public concern youth delinquency in Greece over the past few years. 

Conducted by Prorata and presented at an event organized by the Institute for Social Democracy - InSocial, in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Athens, the study highlights growing concerns among the public about rising violence among minors. 

Police announced on Sunday the dismantling of a burglary ring responsible for break-ins at three government ministries in September.

According to authorities, two members of the gang were arrested and brought before a prosecutor, while a third suspect has been identified.

The Athens Concert Hall (Vassilisis Sofias & Kokkali) is hosting a two-part tribute blending classical instruments with electronic soundscapes on October 19. Athens-based artists including Georgia Spyropoulou and Andreas Mniestris will combine acoustic instruments with electronic beats, using laptops to craft innovative, otherworldly sounds.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül said on Aug. 9 authorities have dismantled 119 criminal gangs in the city this year, following 747 operations that resulted in the apprehension of over 3,500 individuals.

Nearly 1,700 of those were arrested, and around 700 were released on probation.

Police have unraveled a criminal gang of people employed in the civil service that extorted or aided catering establishments and hotels to skirt the law, for building permits, the use of tables and seating and other illegalities.

Summer has arrived a little bit earlier this year

Police conducted an operation against six criminal gangs in the Attica region on Monday, arresting 50 suspected members, while identifying 187 others. The gangs were involved in drug trafficking, theft and counterfeiting. According to the authorities, they had made approximately 1.4 million euros from their criminal activities. 

A fire at an Istanbul nightclub during renovations on Tuesday killed at least 27 people, officials and reports said. Several people, including managers of the club, were detained for questioning.

At least one person was being treated in a hospital, the Istanbul governor's office said in a statement.

Ecuador's president gave orders Tuesday to "neutralize" criminal gangs after gunmen opened fire in a TV studio and bandits threatened random executions on a second day of terror in the violence-riddled country.

At least 10 people have been killed in a series of attacks blamed on gangs as the country exploded in what President Daniel Noboa called an "internal armed conflict".