Greek police on alert on first anniversary of shooting tragedy

More than 10,000 policemen have deployed in Athens this weekend, as Greek authorities and citizens fear a replay of last December's riots, exactly one year after the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old student.

The tragedy, in which Alexandros Grigoropoulos was fatally shot by a policeman, occurred on Dec. 6, 2008, following an altercation between a police patrol and a small group of youths in the Exarchia District of central Athens. It sparked widespread demonstrations and unprecedented destruction for days in many cities around the country.

As Greece's President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister George Papandreou, leaders of other political parties and the family of the victim call for peaceful events to honor the boy's memory, groups of so-called anarchists already try to cause trouble.

On Saturday evening, police apprehended at least 50 people in Athens. A small group of youths damaged with Molotov bombs two cars parked near the Polytechnic School in Exarchia, the area where violent demonstrations broke out last year.

According to local media, among the arrested were Italian and Albanian nationals, "which is a verification of reports that anti-establishment demonstrators arrive to Athens from all over Europe to engage in violent street protests."

On Friday, around 20 people attacked with hammers, sticks and other objects policemen on patrol in Exarchia, wounding two policemen. They fled after the incident.

The newly elected socialist government warns that "resurgence of terror by marginal groups will not be tolerated. The exploitation of Alexis' memory will not be allowed."

On Sunday noon, a memorial service in memory of Alexandros Grigoropoulos will be held at an Athens cemetery, and two rallies by pupils and students shortly after in the center of Athens.

Source: Xinhua