A group of around 500-800 people from the anti-authoritarian space, who were attending a rally in honor of victims of the Tempe railway disaster, clashed with police in Athens’ Syntagma Square on Friday. The protesters, wearing black clothes and masks, smashed marble steps and pelted riot police with stones and Molotov cocktails.
According to sources, the hooded individuals were members of an active anarchist/anti-authoritarian group that had been calling for “insurrection” on the occasion of a general strike and rally. Football hooligans also participated in the incidents.
Police initially delayed intervening to counter the rioters, as a large number of peaceful protesters remained in the square. This allowed the masked individuals time to continue their attacks for about 30 minutes, resulting in several arrests and injuries.
As more protesters joined the rioting, police eventually entered Syntagma Square from multiple points and pursued the rioters, using tear gas and stun grenades. The chase continued for over an hour before a block of around 1,500-2,000 protesters returned to the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
The situation flared up again at 3:30 p.m., when some masked youths began throwing stones at police officers near Parliament. Police responded with a coordinated operation involving riot police squads and water cannon units.
By approximately 6 p.m., police had removed the remaining protesters from Amalias Avenue, opening the road to traffic. The police reported making 66 arrests during the day and that 29 officers were injured in the incidents.
Source: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1263044/how-fridays-rioting-after-the-tempe-rally-developed