Youths run amok in Thessaloniki, Athens
Hooded youths smashed store facades in central Thessaloniki at lunchtime on Saturday in a vandalism spree similar to a rampage by self-styled anarchists in the upmarket Athens district of Kolonaki earlier this month. The 15 or so youths, who used sledgehammers and bats to cause widespread damage but no injuries, eluded arrest. Earlier that day arsonists broke into a Thessaloniki branch of Millennium Bank and torched it with petrol bombs. There was unrest in Athens, too. Late last night arsonists caused damage to the offices of ruling New Democracy in the district of Zografou. Early on Saturday hooded youths assaulted a group of municipal police officers in the historic center, leaving one with head injuries. They too eluded arrest. The same group later smashed up a branch of National Bank on Aiolou Street. Also on Saturday arsonists targeted a luxury car dealership in the northern district of Halandri.
