THESSALONIKI: RIOTS RAGE FOR FOURTH DAY BUT VIOLENCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THESSALONIKI 000085

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ASEC GR
SUBJECT: THESSALONIKI: RIOTS RAGE FOR FOURTH DAY BUT VIOLENCE
APPEARS TO BE DECLINING

REF: ATHENS 1649

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1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On December 10, anarchists and other
demonstrators clashed with police throughout northern Greece in
a fourth day of riots sparked by the fatal shooting of a 15 year
old boy by police in Athens (reftel). Some 10,000 demonstrators
marched through the downtown area, passed the U.S. Consulate
General without incident and attacked police at the Ministry of
Macedonia and Thrace and Aristotle University with Molotov
cocktails. The riots were less destructive than those of the
previous three days. On December 7, 8 and 9, demonstrators
damaged or destroyed over 100 shops, banks and other businesses
in downtown Thessaloniki, as police adopted a "defensive"
posture. Police arrested only a handful of protesters,
prompting some local residents to call for more police
intervention. END SUMMARY

RIOTING ENTERS FOURTH DAY, WITH LESS DESTRUCTION


2. (SBU) Riots continued for a fourth day in northern Greece
following the fatal shooting of a 15 year old boy in Athens by
police on December 6. Around 1100 on December 10, approximately
10,000 self-styled anarchists, communists and students marched
peacefully through the downtown area, passed the U.S. Consulate
General without incident and proceeded to the Ministry of
Macedonia and Thrace, where they threw Molotov cocktails at
police. The demonstrators next marched to Aristotle campus,
breaking store windows along the way, and clashed repeatedly
with police. One civilian was reportedly injured in the
clashes. Police detained several protesters. No demonstrations
have been announced for December 11.


3. (SBU) On the afternoon of December 9, two groups of some
5000 self-described anarchists, students and teachers marched
through downtown Thessaloniki and attacked two police stations
with Molotov cocktails. The demonstrators moved to Aristotle
University, where they damaged three campus buildings and 70
nearby stores and clashed with police until after 2300. Police
responded when attacked but otherwise avoided confrontation with
the demonstrators, as part of their reported orders to maintain
a "defensive" posture. Police arrested 16 people for looting
and briefly detained 7 for vandalism. The latter were released
due to lack of evidence. Some residents have begun to call for
tougher action against the violence, which has nearly paralyzed
the downtown area. Police say demonstrators are well-organized,
communicating rapidly throughout northern Greece via the
internet and SMS. According to a senior police official,
demonstrators caused extensive damage December 7 - 9: 19 Bank
branches, 86 stores (some of them were completely destroyed),a
subway construction site, two police stations, a hotel, the
Water and Sewage Company building, several cafis and torched 150
trash cans. While police did little to stop this damage, fire
fighters reportedly acted quickly and effectively to extinguish
fires and prevent more damage from Molotov cocktails.

CITY STILL REELING FROM DECEMBER 8 RIOTS


3. (SBU) The December 9 and 10 riots were considerably less
destructive than those of the previous two days. On December 8,
demonstrators damaged or destroyed over 100 shops, banks and
other businesses in downtown Thessaloniki. Beginning at around
1100, about 200 students and 50 anarchists marched through the
downtown area breaking store windows and looting stores, passing
in front of the Consulate without incident. At 1830 almost
2,000 Communist Party (KKE) supporters marched from Aristotle
Square to the building housing the U.S. Consulate General
(located on the 7th floor),where they stopped for 10 minutes,
shouting anti-American slogans (e.g. "Americans, Killers of the
People") and burning an American flag. At about 1930,
approximately 5,000 anarchists and S?R??? (coalition of the
left) members marched downtown to the area in front of the
Consulate, where they smashed several store windows and hurled
Molotov cocktails. They also damaged and attempted
(unsuccessfully) to break down the large roll-down metal
security gate at the entrance to the building housing the
American Consulate. Demonstrators also attacked police guarding
the nearby Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace with Molotov
cocktails and police answered with tear gas. The rioters also
attacked a police station in Sykies, where they set fire to the
guard booth, seriously injuring the policeman on duty. Late
that evening the rioters sought refuge near the University.

VIOLENCE TRIGGERED BY SHOOTING OF 15 YEAR OLD IN ATHENS


4. (SBU) The demonstrations started in the early hours of
December 7 with clashes between police and about 150 thugs who
damaged store fronts and threw Molotov cocktails at police.
They anarchists eluded police by taking refuge on the university
campus. At 1300, almost 2,000 demonstrators held an
anti-government rally in downtown Thessaloniki. Protesters

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marched downtown, past the U.S. Consulate, and attacked police
at the Lefkos Pyrgos police station, 50 meters from the rear
side of the Consulate building, with Molotov cocktails, stones,
bottles and sticks. The police repelled rioters with tear gas,
but not before they damaged numerous parked vehicles (including
the personal car of a Consulate local employee parked behind the
Consulate building). Protesters also attacked police at the
Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, the Ano Poli police station,
City Hall, the Turkish Consulate, numerous banks and stores, and
Aristotle University. Demonstrators battled police all night
with Molotov cocktails. Two people were injured (a police
officer and a civilian) but no arrests were reported by the
police.


5. (U) Similar riots took place also in other northern cities
December 7 - 10. In Kavala a group of anarchists attacked the
police headquarters and caused damage to stores and vehicles in
the surrounding area. In the northeastern Greek cities of
Komotini and Xanthi demonstrators damaged stores and banks.
Violence demonstrations took place also in the north-central
Greek cities of Trikala, where a policeman was reportedly
injured, and Larissa, where several bank branches were badly
damaged.

CONGEN THESS SECURITY MEASURES


6. (SBU) Throughout the demonstrations, ConGen Thess has been
in daily contact with the head of northern Greek police, who has
assured us the police will continue to provide us all necessary
support. Thess's Emergency Action Committee met December 9 and
decided to close the Consulate at 1200 that day so that staff
would not get caught in the riots. ConGen security personnel
maintain a 24 hour presence inside the Consulate and closely
monitor the surrounding area.
YEE