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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Greek general strike: Petrol bombs and teargas during anti-austerity protest - as it happened | Greek general strike: Petrol bombs and teargas during anti-austerity protest - as it happened |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| 4.47pm GMT | 4.47pm GMT |
| 16:47 | 16:47 |
| Closing summary | Closing summary |
| OK, it’s time for a recap after a fairly dramatic day. | OK, it’s time for a recap after a fairly dramatic day. |
| The first general strike since Alexis Tsipras took power in Greece has been marred by isolated violence in Athens. | The first general strike since Alexis Tsipras took power in Greece has been marred by isolated violence in Athens. |
| Riot police fired tear gas after a group of extremists launched Molotov cocktails at them, in scenes reminiscent of the 2012 debt crisis. | Riot police fired tear gas after a group of extremists launched Molotov cocktails at them, in scenes reminiscent of the 2012 debt crisis. |
| Petrol bombs were also thrown at bins, a van, roadblocks, and the front of the Bank of Greece’s offices. Reporters on the scene said groups of youths were behind the disruption. | Petrol bombs were also thrown at bins, a van, roadblocks, and the front of the Bank of Greece’s offices. Reporters on the scene said groups of youths were behind the disruption. |
| Riot police hit back with teargas and stun grenades, sending demonstrators - and at least one group of holidaymakers from the UK - scattering. | Riot police hit back with teargas and stun grenades, sending demonstrators - and at least one group of holidaymakers from the UK - scattering. |
| Before the clashes, more than 20,000 people marched through Athens to urge the government to abandon the austerity measures demanded by its lenders. Here’s a selection of photos from the day. | Before the clashes, more than 20,000 people marched through Athens to urge the government to abandon the austerity measures demanded by its lenders. Here’s a selection of photos from the day. |
| Demonstrators told us that they fear for Greece’s future, as winter approached. | Demonstrators told us that they fear for Greece’s future, as winter approached. |
| Marilena Pavlou, a nursery school teacher, warned: | Marilena Pavlou, a nursery school teacher, warned: |
| “The situation is tragic and soon when the government pushes us more on the tax front, more on the cuts front it won’t be good natured at all. | “The situation is tragic and soon when the government pushes us more on the tax front, more on the cuts front it won’t be good natured at all. |
| And 63-year-old Maria Athanassiadou told AFP: | And 63-year-old Maria Athanassiadou told AFP: |
| “I am protesting against the government because they are making fools of us. I am a pensioner and I have no idea what my pension will be.” | “I am protesting against the government because they are making fools of us. I am a pensioner and I have no idea what my pension will be.” |
| Unions say that today’s general strike was well-observed across Greece, as the public show their anger over Greece’s third bailout package. | Unions say that today’s general strike was well-observed across Greece, as the public show their anger over Greece’s third bailout package. |
| But small businesses have criticised unions for calling the walkout. They fear it will harm the country’s attempts to end the financial crisis. | But small businesses have criticised unions for calling the walkout. They fear it will harm the country’s attempts to end the financial crisis. |
| Transport connections have been shut down today, along with some museums, schools and pharmacies. Many travellers arrived at rail stations or ports to find trains cancelled, and ferries tied up. | Transport connections have been shut down today, along with some museums, schools and pharmacies. Many travellers arrived at rail stations or ports to find trains cancelled, and ferries tied up. |
| Belgium’s finance minister criticised Tsipras’s Syriza party for supporting the protests, against a bailout which Tsipras signed up to this summer. | Belgium’s finance minister criticised Tsipras’s Syriza party for supporting the protests, against a bailout which Tsipras signed up to this summer. |
| But a government spokesman denied that this was inconsistent, as: | But a government spokesman denied that this was inconsistent, as: |
| “We are implementing an agreement which includes (bailout) measures which are unfair.” | “We are implementing an agreement which includes (bailout) measures which are unfair.” |
| And while the protests took place, officials from Greece and its lenders battled to reach a deal on mortgage arrears rules. Athens still wants to protect more homeowners from losing their houses if they can’t meet their repayments. | And while the protests took place, officials from Greece and its lenders battled to reach a deal on mortgage arrears rules. Athens still wants to protect more homeowners from losing their houses if they can’t meet their repayments. |
| A deal must come before Monday, if Greece is to unlock €10bn of aid to recapitalise its banks, plus €2bn in loans. | A deal must come before Monday, if Greece is to unlock €10bn of aid to recapitalise its banks, plus €2bn in loans. |
| #Greece gov saying it hopes to conclude negotiations with creditors by Saturday so that 2 bn loan & bank recap funds can b unlocked | #Greece gov saying it hopes to conclude negotiations with creditors by Saturday so that 2 bn loan & bank recap funds can b unlocked |
| 4.03pm GMT | 4.03pm GMT |
| 16:03 | 16:03 |
| We’re hearing that petrol bombs were thrown at the headquarters of the left-wing Pasok party in downtown Athens, and that no-one was hurt. | We’re hearing that petrol bombs were thrown at the headquarters of the left-wing Pasok party in downtown Athens, and that no-one was hurt. |
| About 10 people, around 4.30 pm, threw Molotov cocktails in front of PASOK offices, in the area of Exarchia #12ngr | About 10 people, around 4.30 pm, threw Molotov cocktails in front of PASOK offices, in the area of Exarchia #12ngr |
| 3.39pm GMT | 3.39pm GMT |
| 15:39 | 15:39 |
| Helena Smith | Helena Smith |
| Greece’s unions are declaring today’s general strike a success. | Greece’s unions are declaring today’s general strike a success. |
| Helena Smith has the details: | Helena Smith has the details: |
| ADEDY, the civil servants’ trade union which reckons the strike’s turnout was at least 65% across Greece. | ADEDY, the civil servants’ trade union which reckons the strike’s turnout was at least 65% across Greece. |
| Grigoris Kalomoiris, who sits on the union’s executive committee, tells me: | Grigoris Kalomoiris, who sits on the union’s executive committee, tells me: |
| “As industrial action goes it was very successful. We estimate at least 65% and perhaps as much as 70% participated. Rallies in regional towns outside Athens was especially high.” | “As industrial action goes it was very successful. We estimate at least 65% and perhaps as much as 70% participated. Rallies in regional towns outside Athens was especially high.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.39pm GMT | at 3.39pm GMT |
| 3.25pm GMT | 3.25pm GMT |
| 15:25 | 15:25 |
| In pictures: Today's protests | In pictures: Today's protests |
| These photos show how the anti-austerity demonstration in Athens began in a good-hearted, peaceful fashion, before a group of extremists clashed with riot police: | These photos show how the anti-austerity demonstration in Athens began in a good-hearted, peaceful fashion, before a group of extremists clashed with riot police: |
| 2.45pm GMT | 2.45pm GMT |
| 14:45 | 14:45 |
| Helena Smith | Helena Smith |
| Not everyone in Greece backs today’s general strike, reports Helena Smith. | Not everyone in Greece backs today’s general strike, reports Helena Smith. |
| Those in the private sector, now generating most of the country’s wealth, are furious at what they regard as the indulged antics of pampered public sector workers widely seen as the root cause of Greece’s economic woes. | Those in the private sector, now generating most of the country’s wealth, are furious at what they regard as the indulged antics of pampered public sector workers widely seen as the root cause of Greece’s economic woes. |
| Shopkeepers in central Athens this morning were irate that they should be made to bear the brunt of yet more protests – and appalled that the GSEE, the union representing private sector workers was actually backing it. | Shopkeepers in central Athens this morning were irate that they should be made to bear the brunt of yet more protests – and appalled that the GSEE, the union representing private sector workers was actually backing it. |
| “All I want to do is get on with the business of selling [eye] glasses,” said Spyros Gerakidis, an optician whose family-run business is within walking distance of Syntagma square. | “All I want to do is get on with the business of selling [eye] glasses,” said Spyros Gerakidis, an optician whose family-run business is within walking distance of Syntagma square. |
| “Every time there are strikes and rallies it messes up the market.” | “Every time there are strikes and rallies it messes up the market.” |
| I have been getting an extraordinary rap for my piece earlier today citing trade unionists and far left activists who organized the strike. Greece, say critics, is moving ever closer to becoming a failed state precisely because of its failure to modernize and deal with its cumbersome state apparatus. | I have been getting an extraordinary rap for my piece earlier today citing trade unionists and far left activists who organized the strike. Greece, say critics, is moving ever closer to becoming a failed state precisely because of its failure to modernize and deal with its cumbersome state apparatus. |
| “It is no secret that the Greek public sector not only represents a terrible burden on taxpayers (various tax and social security withholdings represent approximately 50% of payroll cost), but in addition is profoundly corrupt,” wrote one prominent Athenian business lawyer, in an email today. | “It is no secret that the Greek public sector not only represents a terrible burden on taxpayers (various tax and social security withholdings represent approximately 50% of payroll cost), but in addition is profoundly corrupt,” wrote one prominent Athenian business lawyer, in an email today. |
| He claims that, by not reforming, the Greek public sector is causing “economic regression and social decay”. | He claims that, by not reforming, the Greek public sector is causing “economic regression and social decay”. |
| “The Greek public sector serves not the interests of our society but the interests of public sector employees, both by the extraction of favourable employment terms and the absolute lack of effective management (including any form of evaluation.” | “The Greek public sector serves not the interests of our society but the interests of public sector employees, both by the extraction of favourable employment terms and the absolute lack of effective management (including any form of evaluation.” |
| As a result, Greece’ mammoth fiscal adjustment had moved predominantly to the private sector which had also borne the brunt of record unemployment. | As a result, Greece’ mammoth fiscal adjustment had moved predominantly to the private sector which had also borne the brunt of record unemployment. |
| 2.23pm GMT | 2.23pm GMT |
| 14:23 | 14:23 |
| Tear gas and petrol bombs are not what you hope for during a holiday. | Tear gas and petrol bombs are not what you hope for during a holiday. |
| So Katie Wallace, from Glasgow, had an unpleasant surprise today when the violence kicked off in Athens. | So Katie Wallace, from Glasgow, had an unpleasant surprise today when the violence kicked off in Athens. |
| She tells me that she hadn’t known about the protests until Wednesday, when she asked a barman to translate one of the posters that had been stuck up around the capital. | She tells me that she hadn’t known about the protests until Wednesday, when she asked a barman to translate one of the posters that had been stuck up around the capital. |
| Their hotel assured Katie that Athens would be “completely safe”, so she happily visited a cafe...and Molotov cocktails landed close by. | Their hotel assured Katie that Athens would be “completely safe”, so she happily visited a cafe...and Molotov cocktails landed close by. |
| Trust us to be like 50yards away #wrongplacewrongtime https://t.co/IPA1jkkpnh | Trust us to be like 50yards away #wrongplacewrongtime https://t.co/IPA1jkkpnh |
| @graemewearden Bit shaken thrown out of cafe as soon as first petrol bomb went off but swiftly made our way bk to hotel #tothebar Thank u 👌 | @graemewearden Bit shaken thrown out of cafe as soon as first petrol bomb went off but swiftly made our way bk to hotel #tothebar Thank u 👌 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.25pm GMT | at 2.25pm GMT |
| 2.09pm GMT | 2.09pm GMT |
| 14:09 | 14:09 |
| We now have video footage of today’s clashes: | We now have video footage of today’s clashes: |
| 1.33pm GMT | 1.33pm GMT |
| 13:33 | 13:33 |
| Not every young person in Greece went round chucking petrol bombs today. | Not every young person in Greece went round chucking petrol bombs today. |
| In the city of Patras, school students led a protest march against the new austerity measures which include budget cuts to education. | In the city of Patras, school students led a protest march against the new austerity measures which include budget cuts to education. |
| 1.25pm GMT | 1.25pm GMT |
| 13:25 | 13:25 |
| The small group of protesters behind today’s violence have moved back to the Exharchia region of downtown Athens, leaving quite a mess behind: | The small group of protesters behind today’s violence have moved back to the Exharchia region of downtown Athens, leaving quite a mess behind: |
| #Greece gen strike "anti-establishment" protestors have receded to Exharchia after disrupting protest rallies marking 2day's gen strike | #Greece gen strike "anti-establishment" protestors have receded to Exharchia after disrupting protest rallies marking 2day's gen strike |
| #Greece same depressing site of smashed bus stands, flaming rubbish bins, smashed shops/bank/marble steps at end of otherwise peaceful rally | #Greece same depressing site of smashed bus stands, flaming rubbish bins, smashed shops/bank/marble steps at end of otherwise peaceful rally |
| 1.00pm GMT | 1.00pm GMT |
| 13:00 | 13:00 |
| More photos of the clashes which broke out earlier are coming in: | More photos of the clashes which broke out earlier are coming in: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.13pm GMT | at 1.13pm GMT |
| 1.00pm GMT | 1.00pm GMT |
| 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Greece’s prime minister may not see the protests in Athens first-hand. | Greece’s prime minister may not see the protests in Athens first-hand. |
| He’s attending the EU/Africa summit on migration in Malta today, where he’s shared a joke with German chancellor Angela Merkel. | He’s attending the EU/Africa summit on migration in Malta today, where he’s shared a joke with German chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| The Greek prime minister’s increasingly cosy relationship with the woman he once vilified has unnerved Greeks who once gave him their unqualified support, reports Helena Smith. Aides have reportedly told the leftist leader to smile less! | The Greek prime minister’s increasingly cosy relationship with the woman he once vilified has unnerved Greeks who once gave him their unqualified support, reports Helena Smith. Aides have reportedly told the leftist leader to smile less! |
| Tsipras doesn’t have much to smile about when it comes to the crisis -- the Commission is reportedly putting pressure on Greece not to push refugees on into the EU. | Tsipras doesn’t have much to smile about when it comes to the crisis -- the Commission is reportedly putting pressure on Greece not to push refugees on into the EU. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.05pm GMT | at 1.05pm GMT |
| 12.38pm GMT | 12.38pm GMT |
| 12:38 | 12:38 |
| Bank offices hit by petrol bombs | Bank offices hit by petrol bombs |
| Petrol bombs have also been thrown at the offices of the National Bank of Greece. | Petrol bombs have also been thrown at the offices of the National Bank of Greece. |
| #Athens #now #generalstrikegr attack against the National Bank of Greece #apergia pic.twitter.com/KI2PW2UVHw | #Athens #now #generalstrikegr attack against the National Bank of Greece #apergia pic.twitter.com/KI2PW2UVHw |
| There’s a video clip of the incident here, on Naftemporiki’s website. | There’s a video clip of the incident here, on Naftemporiki’s website. |
| Video showing petrol bombs thrown at entrance of #Greece's central bank in #Athens during rally https://t.co/tS5kYhHLU0 via @naftemporikigr | Video showing petrol bombs thrown at entrance of #Greece's central bank in #Athens during rally https://t.co/tS5kYhHLU0 via @naftemporikigr |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.06pm GMT | at 1.06pm GMT |
| 12.31pm GMT | 12.31pm GMT |
| 12:31 | 12:31 |
| (Expensive looking) Shoe shop targeted by violent protesters #Greece pic.twitter.com/wde8D2wtcv | (Expensive looking) Shoe shop targeted by violent protesters #Greece pic.twitter.com/wde8D2wtcv |
| 12.29pm GMT | 12.29pm GMT |
| 12:29 | 12:29 |
| The AFP newswire has more details about how the violence unfolded one hour ago: | The AFP newswire has more details about how the violence unfolded one hour ago: |
| As the demonstration kicked off, scores of youths began vandalising shops, bus stops and traffic lights, according to an AFP reporter at the scene. | As the demonstration kicked off, scores of youths began vandalising shops, bus stops and traffic lights, according to an AFP reporter at the scene. |
| The violence began when around 150 youths attacked police stationed in front of a row of luxury hotels on central Syntagma square, then quickly retreated. | The violence began when around 150 youths attacked police stationed in front of a row of luxury hotels on central Syntagma square, then quickly retreated. |
| During the unrest, youths also set a car alight with Molotov cocktails. | During the unrest, youths also set a car alight with Molotov cocktails. |
| 12.21pm GMT | 12.21pm GMT |
| 12:21 | 12:21 |
| This video appears to show the OTE van which was hit by a petrol bomb today (see earlier post). | This video appears to show the OTE van which was hit by a petrol bomb today (see earlier post). |
| Despite being burned out, the van’s windscreen wipers are still defiantly working. | Despite being burned out, the van’s windscreen wipers are still defiantly working. |
| #12ngr #apergia pic.twitter.com/cUU0SVQx6I | #12ngr #apergia pic.twitter.com/cUU0SVQx6I |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.21pm GMT | at 12.21pm GMT |
| 12.11pm GMT | 12.11pm GMT |
| 12:11 | 12:11 |
| #Greece gen strike: burning road blocs and burning van now focus of clashes as youths mar otherwise peaceful protests rallies in #Athens | #Greece gen strike: burning road blocs and burning van now focus of clashes as youths mar otherwise peaceful protests rallies in #Athens |