Police tread lightly in Exarchia
High-ranking police sources admitted to Kathimerini yesterday that the force is not pursuing suspected criminals in the Exarchia area of Athens because of fears that they will antagonize anarchists involved in protests against university reforms. The admission came after a gang of 12 hooded thieves armed with a gun and Molotov cocktails held up a computer store in the area late on Tuesday and stole 21 laptops. Police said that the gang arrived at the store on George Street after setting off from Exarchia Square. Five of the suspects allegedly entered the shop and threatened customers and staff with a handgun and petrol bombs. After swiping the computers and some accessories, the robbers threw one of the Molotov cocktails at the store. Police sources indicated that the robbers then sought refuge in a cafeteria near Exarchia Square where they hid the stolen items. Kathimerini understands that officers did not act on this information because they feared that a heavy police presence in Exarchia, a hangout for self-styled anarchists, could exacerbate the situation ahead of another protest against education reforms tomorrow. Some previous rallies have been marred by violence between anarchists and riot police. However, officers are concerned that criminals will take advantage of the standoff and target other stores and banks. They think that the gun brandished by one of the robbers on Tuesday night was likely a service revolver that had been stolen from a policeman who was attacked by anarchists outside the offices of the GSEE union in December. Police are also worried about the recent rise of violent attacks by anarchists.
