Persons arrested for Boutaris attack

The mayor of Thessaloniki was targeted on Saturday afternoon during a memorial of the Genocide of Pontian Hellenism by Ottomans and their successor Turks.

The two arrested, a 20-year-old and 36-year-old both Greek citizens, the second  hailing from Georgia, were initially prosecuted, and they were then arrested.

The 20-year-old admitted his act and told the police officers: "I got steamed up when I saw him, what he had said about the Genocide made me irate and I started beating him."

Three further people were rounded up by police and a 20 year old and 17 year old were arrested for the attack on Yannis Boutaris.

According to the case file, the State Security Directorate which enacted the preliminary investigation, accused the two arrested on charges of disturbing domestic peace, unprovoked bodily harm and a desctruction of property.