Greece: Fascists attempt to kill immigrants (updates)

Update: 13th of May

1) Fascists stopped a bus in central Athens, forced all passengers out and brutally attacked those who looked foreign. (Video). Anarchists and anti-fascist activists have already gathered at the two central squats, Skaramanga and Villa Amalias.

2) Two Albanian immigrants were brutally beaten up by five neo-Nazis in the city of Rethymnon (Crete). One has been hospitalized due to injuries to his visceral cranium and a broken nose, while the condition of the second is less severe. The attack took place in a parking lot located in the “Four Martyrs” in the center of Rethymnon, when the immigrants were trying to get to their car, as Athens Indymedia reports.

Update: 12th of May

Earlier in the afternoon, in downtown Athens, neo-Nazi groups armed with knives and iron truncheons (see the slideshow below), tried to kill many immigrants in a concerted effort. 17 had to be taken to hospital via ambulance including 12 for stab wounds. Far-right hooligans also invaded the central soup kitchen in Athens and destroyed shops that belonged to migrant workers.

[portfolio_slideshow showtitles=false thumbs=false] According to Occupied London

In the early hours of May 12th a 21-year old Bangladeshi migrant was stabbed to death in the Kato Patisia district of Athens. The victim, wrongly reported in mainstream news (and reposted on this blog) as a Pakistani migrant, was lethally stabbed almost certainly by fascist thugs who have launched a series of attacks in the centre of Athens following the murder of a Greek man on Tuesday night, on the corner of Ipirou and Tritis Septemvriou Street. Eye witnesses report that the murderers of the 21-year old man chased him around the neighbourhood and spoke Greek.

Meanwhile a demonstration was called in Athens and other cities, in response to the murderous police attacks against the General Strike demonstration of May 11th. Approximately 5,000 people gathered at Propilaia (Athens). The protesters were once again attacked by the riot police. The demonstrator, Yiannis K. who has been hospitalised after being attacked by a police club is still in an induced coma, fighting for his life.

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11th of May:

A massive coordinated attack against immigrants and anarchists took place yesterday in Athens. Everything started when early morning a murder of a Greek citizen took place near Viktoria Square in the city centre. Around afternoon, people from the area gathered at the spot of the incident to make a peaceful protest against all the things that are happening in their neighbourhood (drugs, prostitution and things like that which on most of the times are done with the blessings of the police). Immediately there was a call from fascists, nazis and right wingers who took advantage of this tragic death, trying to pursue a racist agenda. Obviously, they didn’t let this opportunity pass by, screaming that the murderer was an immigrant. In total there were around 300 people gathered there, including neighbours and fascists.

At that point of time, things started to get out of hand. The fascists started to attack every immigrant on their way. Anarchists were alerted and gathered at Skaramagka Squat, which is located a few meters from Viktoria’s Square. The squat was attacked by approximately 30-40 fascists (see the video below) with the police giving them a little help, but eventually none of the neo-Nazis managed to get inside the squatted building as their attack was repelled by some anarchists. Another attack also took place at Villa Amalias squat.

Witnesses say the fascists threw firecrackers at both squats, but without causing any serious damage. The police prevented the fascists to come face to face with the anarchists and other activists who were present inside the buildings.

In total, around 24 people were arrested (one from the fascist side). Many right-wing extremists headed towards Omonoia Square, beating up and hunting down every immigrant. The police tried to confine the situation to the centre of Athens. Some fascists wanted to march to Exarcheia Square – which is traditionally a neighbourhood of alternative people – but giving it a second thought and called it off.

Things begun to settle down (at least that’s what local media were saying) around 22:00, but eye-witnesses say many pavements in the centre of Athens are covered with blood

It should also be mentioned, that during this protest, there were voices denouncing the presence of these far right hooligans, making it clear that they were unwanted. It was too obvious that these right-wingers were trying to gain favour from this incident. As it is understandable, many citizens of Athens have lost hope, while others show a lot of anger because of poverty and crime. However it is not true what the mainstream media try to present, that all the Athenians are adopting the nationalist propaganda.

More racist attacks:

Close to the area of Liosia, a group of metal-workers repelled a group of fascists who were screaming at a migrant worker. Some smaller attacks took place also around Perama and Argiroupoli but with the help of locals and activists the fascists disappeared.

In the morning another attempted murder took place. Three Molotovs were thrown into the courtyard of a foreigner’s house in Renti (Athens). The fire burned some furniture and was extinguished by the fire-brigade.

The background:

Greece is for many refugees, the main gate to Europe. Many of those who enter the country, aiming to travel anywhere else (UK, France, Italy…), are getting trapped within the Greek territory because of the Dublin II treaty. The increasing number of immigrants has caused massive tensions between them and some local citizens. During the past few years, the situation dramatically worsened. Racist attacks occur on a daily basis. Migrants in Greece cannot enjoy social welfare housing and other benefits. On September 21st 2010 the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees declared that the asylum situation in Greece is “a humanitarian crisis!”. Amnesty International has urged Greece to stop treating asylum seekers as criminals and holding them in detention centres. (Read also our article: “The Battle of Attica Square” goes on…).

During the municipal elections, in the race of Mayor for Athens, a fascist leader appeared set to win a seat on the local council for the first time. Nikolaos Michaloliakos, leader of the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn group gathered over 5 percent of the total votes, while in some areas Golden Dawn votes totalled around 22%. As Associated Press reports “Michaloliakos capitalized on increased tensions with illegal immigrants, including attacks on foreigners by right-wing vigilantes, to nearly quadruple the extreme right’s showing from the last election, in 2006″.