It all started on New Year's Eve, when the police with a special operation put an end to a squat, essentially a forced occupation by self-proclaimed anarchists, that had lasted ... 30 years, in the specific School of Sciences of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The reactions of the then anti-authoritarian groups, mainly, were reduced, but in the last weeks that the utilization of the University's public space for the benefit of the academic community and research began, with the construction of the library, the specific groups returned. On a daily basis and while the works were in progress, protest rallies were held, with riot police arrived in order to ... protect the works.
The sledgehammer attack - They destroyed everything in the Biology building
From time to time, episodes of small or large intensity broke out, but what happened in the early hours of last Saturday and was strongly condemned by all, turned a new page in this shameful chapter in the history of Aristotle University.
Unknown persons wearing hoods invaded the area of the Biology Center, while the police were absent, and completely destroyed with sledgehammers the works that had been done until then. The University Senate in its extraordinary session, unanimously condemned the vandalism.
The authorities, as expected, announced that the construction work of the library would start again, as it did, but once again the few dozen troublemakers reappeared.
Recently, the historian and professor of Political Science at Oxford Stathis Kalyvas in his article in "Kathimerini" entitled "The ideology of leveling" had stigmatized the images at the University. Referring to the pathogenesis of education in Greece, he referred to the example of Cyprus, noting, among other things, that there, "Cypriots managed to create an exemplary university institution in a short time - with the parallel and rapid development of private higher education" to add: "Heart of the university the amazing, designed by Jean Nouvel, library [...] And speaking of libraries, these days we have to activate the police in their construction ". Of course he was referring to the unacceptable episodes that took place recently at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Fisticuff at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki on Tuesday
More violent incidents than the previous ones broke out on Tuesday at noon, when the people who support the former occupation "Hangout in the Organic" threw stones at the MAT forces, which are close to the former Hangout, and they responded with a partial use of chemicals.
The incidents lasted a long time and spread to the Rector's Office, while there were eight injuries.
As if that was not enough, hours later, on Tuesday afternoon, the episodes spread to the center of Thessaloniki, in protest rallies by the same groups. The incidents erupted when a group of hooded persons moved towards the riot police squads throwing stones, with the police forces responding with flash grenades.
Incidents at Thessaloniki U: Eight injuries and two arrests
In the evening, it became known that the Police proceeded to arrest a second person for the incidentss that took place earlier at the AUTh.
This is a 48-year-old man, who, according to the Police, who verbally attacked police officers, in front of the AUTh Administration Building, and then tried to handcuff a police officer, who reacted and pushed him away, causing tension. .
Earlier, the arrest of a 24-year-old man was announced, who had been brought in during the incidents outside the School of Sciences.
An announcement of the General Police Directorate of Thessaloniki points out that "at noon today (10-05-2022) and while police measures were in progress to guard construction work on the ground floor of the School of Sciences of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a group of people with "masks attacked police forces with stones and other objects."
"In order to prevent further escalation, the police forces used the appropriate means and techniques. Two people were arrested, while a preliminary investigation is being carried out by the Thessaloniki Security Directorate "
