Police raid on Athens university yields no anarchist arrests
An early morning raid on the grounds of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) on Wednesday turned up materials which confirmed suspicions that self-styled anarchists are using the premises to prepare for clashes with police but did not lead to the arrest of any suspected anti-establishment activists.
Police confiscated a jerry can of fuel, pepper spray, a sledgehammer, wooden poles, motorcycle helmets and gas masks during the raid, which was reportedly carried out following a tip-off. But none of the six people – three Greeks and three immigrants – detained in the crackdown was believed to be linked to anarchist groups.
According to sources, two of the migrants are Kurds who have lodged applications for political asylum in Greece; the third migrant is believed to be in the country illegally. The three Greeks were released.
Commenting on the raid, which drew criticism from leftist opposition SYRIZA, government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said police were simply “implementing the law.” P
ublic Order Minister Nikos Dendias struck a similar tone later, saying, “The return of occupied spaces on university grounds, after 30 years, proves that there is no longer an issue of lawless areas.”
