A 44-year-old police officer who had been assigned to the personal guard of Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) MP Costas Barbarousis has been suspended from work and is facing expulsion from the force after it emerged that he played an active role in the far-right group’s raid on an open-air market Mesolongi, western Greece, on Saturday.

Police sources confirmed that the officer, identified just by his initials D.M., had been spotted in a video of the incident that was posted on the Internet. The officer is seen in a group of Golden Dawn supporters led by Barbarousis as they walked through a market, where they attacked stalls operated by migrants. The 44-year-old, who served at the Aitolia precinct, is also seen arguing with a woman who objected to the men’s behavior.

The incident is an embarrassment for the police force, which has been accused by critics of failing to clamp down on illegal acts by Golden Dawn supporters, including attacks on migrants, because of alleged ties to the party. The force denies it has shown any bias or failed to do its duty.

Sources told Kathimerini that police have identified another seven suspects apart from Barbarousis who took part in Saturday’s raid. They are likely to face prosecution.

A similar raid, in which two other Golden Dawn MPs participated, took place in Rafina, northeast of Athens, on Friday night. Sources said police have identified two suspects apart from the deputies after viewing footage of the incident. It is expected that the file will be handed to a prosecutor by Friday.

Police were yesterday investigating an attack on two Pakistani men in a barbershop in Metamorphosi, northern Athens, on Monday night. A Greek taxi driver was stabbed in the incident after apparently attempting to stop the two attackers. The store was set on fire.