The Greek Courier reports from Athens
On Saturday night, the "law and order" approach of Chrysochoidis and the Mitsotakis government was starkly evident in the Athenian neighbourhood of Exarchia, where riot police and the ACTION team displayed extreme aggression, resembling an occupying force in local nightclubs.
Reports surfaced of police breaking into stores, assaulting patrons, including tourists, and causing damage to businesses. Squads moved through the area, creating chaos and fear. Videos shared by residents and bystanders captured the police storming bars on Messolonghiou and Koletti streets, indiscriminately beating anyone in their path. Despite the pleas and protests from employees and patrons, the officers continued their assault, making unprovoked arrests.
They resorted to using tear gas and flashbangs in crowded spaces, escalating the situation further. Witnesses reported that this uncontrolled police action persisted for nearly two hours, leaving the community in shock.
Horrifying images of riot police and ACTION team members invading and behaving like an occupying army in nightclubs in the area.
The neighborhood has faced this kind of violence since the late 1970s, driven by gentrification and the suppression of political voices. Centrally located, it has attracted numerous entrepreneurs and political regimes aiming to depoliticize the area and transform it into a mainstream nightclub district. Recently, local residents, supported by political youth, successfully halted plans for a Metro station intended to facilitate gentrification in the hub.
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