Siuation on Lesvos in chaos

Yesterday, there were serious incidents in two phases, with police proceeding to 40 evacuations, and a fire broke out in an abandoned house at night, again causing anger in the area.

Lesvos: Afghans on the streets lit fires shouting "freedom"
Initially, tens of thousands of Afghan asylum seekers marched on the streets in the morning and shouted "freedom", protesting their long stay in Moria and Kara Tepe.

Some even found themselves near the PPC power plant, where they set fires, while another group entered the city, occupying the main waterfront in front of the municipal theater.

The police tried to disperse them using tear gas, while migrants blocking the road did not allow firefighters to leave the service facilities located in the area.

Moria: Resident tensions and protests
Then, after fleeing the protest rally, some went through the village to return to the camp. When this was noticed by the residents, some people rang the bells and several residents took to the streets.

It has not been clarified whether they entered the village on their own, or if they were driven by police actions, according to the local site tonisi.gr, but this was of little relevance to the residents who went to the village community offices in the evening.

Moria: Fire and new tension

As the tension peaked, a fire broke out in an abandoned house, which further fueled the residents' anger. As local sites report, witnesses said irregular migrants were staying at the house, which angered residents, accusing the immigrants of setting the fire.

However, the fire department immediately intervened and extinguished it shortly before midnight, with no injuries. The causes of the fire have not yet been clarified.

Moria: The measures requested by the general meeting

With the residents outdoors, a popular general assembly was held, with the participation of the local authorities, led by the Northern Aegean Regional Governor Costas Moutzouris and the Mayor of Mytilene, Stratis Kytelis.

At the convention, it was decided to react, and at 7am today they announced that they would occupy the General Secretariat of Aegean and Island Policy. At the same time, they demanded a permanent police platoon at the entrance of the village, so that immigrants could not enter and roam the streets of the village.

According to local media reports, the request was accepted and it was expected at night or this morning that two additional MAT (riot police) squads would arrive to check on the situation. Also at the General Assembly they demanded the blockade of Moria and its gradual closure.

Government looking for provocateurs - SYRIZA reaction
According to the AMNA, police had known since Friday that asylum seekers were preparing to mobilize. The incidents that took place in Lesvos yesterday also drew the reaction of Immigration Minister Notis Mitarakis, who said investigations were under way to find out who provoked the incidents.

"The Greek Police responded to incidents at the Reception and Identification Center of Moria. The primary obligation of the State is the safety of the citizens. Consequently, these unfortunate events confirm the need to accelerate asylum procedures, the return of those denied asylum, and the functioning of closed and controlled centers.

It goes without saying that abusive behavior is not consistent with the asylum procedure. In addition, the Greek authorities are stepping up safeguard measures and are investigating the possibility of the provocation of such reactions. Some may be upset, but let them understand: the policy has changed," he said in a statement.

For its part, SYRIZA blamed the government for the incidents that took place in Lesvos, stressing that "it must restore the living conditions in the refugee centers and decongest the islands," among others.