Clashes on teen’s killing anniversary in Greece

Clashes broke out between Greek security forces and students in Athens during protests to mark the second anniversary of the killing of a teenager who was shot dead by police.

6 December 2010, 12:00am

1 min read

Groups of students threw stones and blocks of wood at bank and shop windows in the centre of Athens as they marched towards the parliament building to commemorate the death of Alexis Grigoropoulos.

Most of the demonstrators marched peacefully towards the parliament building calling “Greece is not a protectorate” and waving banners reading “International Monetary Fund out.”

Around 5,000 police personnel were on alert and central Athens was restricted to public transport as demonstrations called by students, labour unions and leftist groups to commemorate Grigoropoulos's slaying were due to take place.

The killing of the 15-year-old Grigoropoulos during a December 2008 night patrol in the Athens district of Exarchia sparked days of urban unrest across Greece.