Police bike kills 7-year-old girl
An Athens prosecutor has ordered a preliminary investigation into the exact circumstances of the death of a 7-year-old Roma girl who was hit by a motorcycle being driven by a policeman in the northern suburb of Menidi on Wednesday afternoon, prompting clashes between dozens of members of the local Roma community and police officers dispatched to investigate the incident. Around 100 Roma residents took to the streets near the spot of the accident late on Wednesday, after news emerged that the girl had died of her injuries in a local hospital. Demonstrators hurled rocks and flares at riot police officers, who responded by firing tear gas. There were no reports of any arrests or injuries during the clashes. The 22-year-old officer who had been on the motorcycle was released pending the outcome of the investigation. He is not to be charged until the completion of the probe.
