A chaotic night with many damages

Last night was a nightmare for Athens and many big Greek cities. The protests that started three days ago, on Saturday, December 6th, continued and the demonstrators burnt the entire centre of Athens. The incidents started at about 6.00 p.m. when they attacked and set fire on shopping stores, banks and big hotels in Omonoia, Syntagma, Stadiou st, Panespistimiou ave, Patision st and Philellinon st, that are the streets around the Parliament. Many destructions were caused to theatres, cinemas, cars, police departments and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The demonstrators also tried to set the Archaeological Museum on fire, but fortunately the fire brigade managed to burtn it down. Serious damages were also caused to the National Library, an impressive Neoclassical building on Panepistimiou ave. The police force was trying to calm things down with tear gases and arrests, but the demonstators were furious. Eventually, things seemed to appease after midnight. Similar destructions were caused in many cities of Greece, such as Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, Chania, Larisa and Ioannina. Groups of anarchists and demonstrators attacked police departments and caused many damages to cars and shopping centres. The government representatives and the prime minister declared that no one has the right to destroy private or public fortune and that such behaviours dishonour the quality of our democracy. However, the authorities fear for a new wave of violence, as today afternoon the funeral of the 16-year-old boy, who was shot by the policeman, will be held in Paleo Faliro neighbourhood and new demonstrations have been organized. Schools and universities remain close today and tomorrow as a sign of greef for the death of the young boy, while strikes have been declared for tomorrow, December 10th.