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| Greek police shooting sparks riot | Greek police shooting sparks riot |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Riots have broken out in several Greek cities after police shot dead a teenager in the capital Athens. | Riots have broken out in several Greek cities after police shot dead a teenager in the capital Athens. |
| The unrest began soon after the shooting in the central Exarchia district, a regular scene of clashes between police and leftist groups. | The unrest began soon after the shooting in the central Exarchia district, a regular scene of clashes between police and leftist groups. |
| Youths threw petrol bombs, burned cars and smashed shop windows. | Youths threw petrol bombs, burned cars and smashed shop windows. |
| Riots then spread to Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, to the northern cities of Komotini and Ioannina, and to Crete. | Riots then spread to Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, to the northern cities of Komotini and Ioannina, and to Crete. |
| Two officers have been suspended, and an inquiry is under way, after the worst such violence in several years. | Two officers have been suspended, and an inquiry is under way, after the worst such violence in several years. |
| Protesters screamed slogans, attacking police cars with rocks Paul JohnstonLocal resident Eyewitness: Athens riotIn pictures: Athens riots | Protesters screamed slogans, attacking police cars with rocks Paul JohnstonLocal resident Eyewitness: Athens riotIn pictures: Athens riots |
| The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says that the rioters have set fire to banks and stores in the city's main shopping district. A four-storey building has also been torched and many cars destroyed. | The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says that the rioters have set fire to banks and stores in the city's main shopping district. A four-storey building has also been torched and many cars destroyed. |
| Police lured | Police lured |
| Greece's anarchists regard the quarter of Exarchia as their fortress and they frequently lure police into ambushes so they can attack them with rocks and fire bombs, our correspondent says. | |
| As dawn broke over the city, emergency crews were damping down fires while many of the youths were understood to have retreated to Athens Polytechnic. | As dawn broke over the city, emergency crews were damping down fires while many of the youths were understood to have retreated to Athens Polytechnic. |
| There are no reports of casualties among the police or rioters. | There are no reports of casualties among the police or rioters. |
| In a statement, interior minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos expressed the government's "profound regret" for the shooting of the boy, reported to be 16-years old. | In a statement, interior minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos expressed the government's "profound regret" for the shooting of the boy, reported to be 16-years old. |
| "An inquiry on the circumstances of the death has already begun and, if the policemen are found to have been derelict in their duty, the punishment will be exemplary." | "An inquiry on the circumstances of the death has already begun and, if the policemen are found to have been derelict in their duty, the punishment will be exemplary." |
| In Athens, police fired tear gas at hundreds of stone-throwing youths, who went on a rampage as news of the shooting spread. | In Athens, police fired tear gas at hundreds of stone-throwing youths, who went on a rampage as news of the shooting spread. |
| After a lull of a couple of hours, rioting resumed shortly after midnight local time (2200 GMT), with some protesters marching through Athens city centre and others fighting police outside the National Technical University of Athens, the Associated Press news agency reported. | After a lull of a couple of hours, rioting resumed shortly after midnight local time (2200 GMT), with some protesters marching through Athens city centre and others fighting police outside the National Technical University of Athens, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
| Although damage was widespread, there were no reports of looting. | Although damage was widespread, there were no reports of looting. |
| Witnesses said that the destruction was not indiscriminate. While clothing shops and banks were badly damaged, the numerous snack bars were all left intact. | Witnesses said that the destruction was not indiscriminate. While clothing shops and banks were badly damaged, the numerous snack bars were all left intact. |
| Vassilis Papadopoulos, who owns a shop that was badly damaged in the rioting, said the timing was particularly bad. | Vassilis Papadopoulos, who owns a shop that was badly damaged in the rioting, said the timing was particularly bad. |
| "It happened just before Christmas, we made an effort to decorate it, now the staff will come and see this," he said. | "It happened just before Christmas, we made an effort to decorate it, now the staff will come and see this," he said. |
| Many cars have been destroyed in the Athens riots | Many cars have been destroyed in the Athens riots |
| "Where will they get their Christmas bonus and Christmas gift from now? Its completely damaged, its tragic." | "Where will they get their Christmas bonus and Christmas gift from now? Its completely damaged, its tragic." |
| In Thessaloniki dozens of youths attacked a police precinct, while others blocked a road near the university campus. | In Thessaloniki dozens of youths attacked a police precinct, while others blocked a road near the university campus. |
| People were being encouraged to join in the protests via some websites, AP said. | People were being encouraged to join in the protests via some websites, AP said. |
| An Interior Ministry press officer told Reuters news agency that Mr Pavlopoulos had offered his resignation to Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, but it had been rejected. | An Interior Ministry press officer told Reuters news agency that Mr Pavlopoulos had offered his resignation to Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, but it had been rejected. |
| Police issued a statement after the shooting, saying a patrol car with two officers inside was attacked by about 30 youths throwing stones. | Police issued a statement after the shooting, saying a patrol car with two officers inside was attacked by about 30 youths throwing stones. |
| They were attacked again and responded, with one firing a stun grenade and the other shooting and fatally wounding the boy, AP quoted the statement as saying. | They were attacked again and responded, with one firing a stun grenade and the other shooting and fatally wounding the boy, AP quoted the statement as saying. |
| Correspondents say the shooting and rioting are certain to ramp up clashes between anarchists and police. | Correspondents say the shooting and rioting are certain to ramp up clashes between anarchists and police. |
| A similar shooting in 1985 led to years of violence. | A similar shooting in 1985 led to years of violence. |
| Residents have recently protested over rising crime and lawlessness, and complain that the police fail to answer emergency calls, staying barricaded in their police stations, our correspondent adds. | Residents have recently protested over rising crime and lawlessness, and complain that the police fail to answer emergency calls, staying barricaded in their police stations, our correspondent adds. |
| There were clashes between students and police in Athens last week when about 4,000 people attended a rally to oppose education reforms. | There were clashes between students and police in Athens last week when about 4,000 people attended a rally to oppose education reforms. |
| Police made 12 arrests after a group of violent protesters broke away and damaged banks and shop fronts. | Police made 12 arrests after a group of violent protesters broke away and damaged banks and shop fronts. |
| Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below. | Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
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