Police in Greece on Tuesday cracked down hard on protests by the Roma community in the western city of Thessaloniki (north) over the shooting of a 16-year-old teenager who is in serious condition.
Several people have cut off streets and erected barricades in the Thessaloniki municipality of Kalochori, on the same day that the officer suspected of shooting the 16-year-old was testifying before a court trying him for attempted murder, where another group has also gathered to protest.
Police had to disperse a crowd of several dozen people, while firefighters came to extinguish fires set during the protests, according to the Greek daily ‘Kathimerini’.
The young man was shot in the head and is hospitalized in serious condition. Members of the community and the police have clashed at the gates of the hospital. The protesters have accused the authorities of racism within the police force and discrimination.
The case of young Kostas Fragoulis took place on Monday. According to the Greek press, the victim filled up 20 euros worth of gasoline and left without paying. In his flight, he rammed one of the officers who was pursuing him on a motorcycle. After stopping the vehicle, an officer fired a shot and hit the young man in the head.
The 34-year-old police officer is charged with attempted intentional homicide and carrying out an unlawful shooting to immobilize or neutralize a suspect. The defendant maintains that he fired because there was a real risk to the safety of himself and his fellow officers.
The protests have taken place during the 14th anniversary of the fatal shooting that took the life of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, then 15 years old, in a police operation. The officer involved was subsequently convicted of murder. Since then, annual demonstrations have been held in Greece against police violence during these dates.
