Oropos mayor and three others detained over fiery toll protest
The Mayor of Oropos, Yiannis Oikonomakos, and three others have been detained after a toll booth was knocked over and set on fire during a protest against a hike in toll charges on Sunday.
About 5000 protesters gathered at the Malakasa toll post northeast of Athens on Sunday evening after the government announced earlier in the week that charges would increasing.
A booth on one of the side roads was destroyed during the protest. There were no injuries. Police have been studying video footage of the incident.
The protest was organized by Oropos Municipality, which argues that toll charges are to high for residents, who have to pass through up to eight toll booths while travelling in the area.
Some toll charges have increased by as much as 60 percent as a result of the hikes announced last week.
