Around 20 masked youths attacked a municipal police station in the Athens district of Pangrati yesterday at lunchtime, using sledgehammers to smash windows in what was believed to be an expression of solidarity for assailants being held over a similar hit.

The attack, which provoked no injuries, surprised the police, who usually boost reinforcements at night. “We had not anticipated anything like this during the day,” one officer said.

The perpetrators were believed to be protesting the detention of youths linked to an attempted arson attack on a police vehicle in Palaio Faliron last June.

The assailants yesterday caused extensive damage to the facade of the Pangrati station using sledgehammers and stones and overturned a parked patrol car before fleeing. They all managed to elude arrest.