NEWS

Death of Roma man at dump fuels riots

Members of the Roma community living in a makeshift settlement next to the capital?s main landfill at Ano Liosia, northwest of Athens, clashed violently with riot police at the site on Saturday after a fellow Roma was killed by a waste compactor machine.

The man, who was not identified, had been rooting through the garbage when he was crushed by the waste compactor whose operator failed to see him.

Shortly after the incident, around 200 Roma flocked to the site, setting fire to three municipal vehicles and piles of trash. Riot police managed to control the unrest two hours later and eight fire engines sent to the site extinguished the blazes.

Earlier this month, workers at the landfill discovered the lower half of a man?s body. Police said the victim was probably a migrant. Similar discoveries at the dump in the past have been attributed to the settling of scores between gangs.

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