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Athens tense for riot anniversary | |
(1 day later) | |
Riot police in Athens have made scores of arrests ahead of the first anniversary of the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy. | |
More than 6,000 officers are on the streets of the Greek capital to avoid a repeat of the riots that followed the teenager's killing by police last year. | |
Correspondents describe the atmosphere in the city as tense. | |
Dozens of schools and universities across Greece have been occupied by students ready to mark the uprising. | |
On Saturday, two cars were set alight in the Exarchia district of Athens, where last December's fatal shooting took place. | |
To head off trouble, riot police carried out a series of raids across the city, arresting more than 150 people, reports said. | |
Greece's government has warned it will have a zero tolerance policy towards violence. | |
"We want to send a clear message, we won't tolerate a repeat of the violence and terror scene in central Athens, we won't hand Athens to vandals," said Citizen Protection Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis. | "We want to send a clear message, we won't tolerate a repeat of the violence and terror scene in central Athens, we won't hand Athens to vandals," said Citizen Protection Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis. |
Memorial service | Memorial service |
Family and friends of teenager Alexandros Grigoropoulos will hold a memorial service on Sunday to mark a year since his killing. | Family and friends of teenager Alexandros Grigoropoulos will hold a memorial service on Sunday to mark a year since his killing. |
They have appealed for calm, but posters have appeared in the capital saying: "We won't forget, we won't forgive." | They have appealed for calm, but posters have appeared in the capital saying: "We won't forget, we won't forgive." |
Police said they expected about 150 foreign anarchists to arrive this weekend from Italy, France and other European countries. | |
Last year's riots raged for more than two weeks | Last year's riots raged for more than two weeks |
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has acknowledged that the weekend is a "crucial moment" for his new socialist government and for the nation. | Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has acknowledged that the weekend is a "crucial moment" for his new socialist government and for the nation. |
"All of us, citizens, political leaders, parties, students representatives, we must protect Athens," he said. | "All of us, citizens, political leaders, parties, students representatives, we must protect Athens," he said. |
Shop owners in the Greek capital are braced for trouble although some believe it will not be as bad as last year. | Shop owners in the Greek capital are braced for trouble although some believe it will not be as bad as last year. |
"Like all other shops on this street, we have put [up] steel shutters," said Athens music store manager George Stouraitis. | "Like all other shops on this street, we have put [up] steel shutters," said Athens music store manager George Stouraitis. |
"But I don't think anything major will happen this year because the government is still young." | "But I don't think anything major will happen this year because the government is still young." |
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says police hope to repeat the success they had with an annual demonstration two weeks ago which normally ends in violence. | The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says police hope to repeat the success they had with an annual demonstration two weeks ago which normally ends in violence. |
Officers managed to contain trouble by briefly detaining 300 youngsters, he says. | Officers managed to contain trouble by briefly detaining 300 youngsters, he says. |
Two police officers have been charged with the murder and attempted murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos and their trial is due to begin in the New Year. | Two police officers have been charged with the murder and attempted murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos and their trial is due to begin in the New Year. |