Police in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, detained 309 people following serious overnight clashes involving petrol bombs near Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), authorities said on Saturday, as one officer was injured and multiple vehicles were damaged.
According to an update from the Thessaloniki General Police Directorate, none of the detentions had been converted into arrests as of yet. The incidents unfolded in the early hours of Saturday outside the university campus in the city center and along major surrounding roads, prompting a large police response.
What happened in Thessaloniki?
During the clashes, a police officer sustained burn injuries and was taken to the 424 Military Hospital for treatment. Officials have said the injuries were sustained when Molotov cocktails were thrown during confrontations between groups emerging from the university area and police units stationed nearby.
Significant damage was reported to three privately-owned cars. Rubbish bins in the area were also set aflame, adding to the destruction and resulting in hazards for passing traffic and nearby properties.
Police sources have reported that between approximately 02:00 and 02:30 local time, individuals moved out of the AUTH grounds in groups, hurling petrol bombs at police forces positioned at the height of 3rd September Street. The scale and intensity of the attacks led to extensive checks and detentions in the wider area as officers sought to restore order and prevent further incidents.
The clashes disrupted traffic across several central routes of Thessaloniki, including sections of Egnatia Street, one of the city’s main arteries. Access restrictions and debris on the roadway made it difficult for vehicles to pass safely during and after the incidents.
Early on Saturday morning, municipal cleaning crews were deployed by the City of Thessaloniki to clear affected streets around the university, as well as Egnatia Street. Crews removed burned debris, damaged items, and other remnants of the unrest in order to reopen roads and normalize traffic flow as quickly as possible.
Authorities did not provide further details on the identities of those detained or whether additional investigative steps are planned. According to the police, assessments of the damage are ongoing, and the condition of the injured officer is being monitored.
Officials have said updates would be issued if there are developments regarding arrests or further legal action.
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