THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Authorities in Greece detained 313 people in raids on Saturday after riot police were attacked by a crowd of people who threw more than 100 Molotov cocktails at a university campus in Thessaloniki, the country’s second-largest city.
Greek police said a group of hooded men emerged from the campus of Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University early Saturday to attack a squad of riot police. The unit is usually deployed at a distance from the campus to prevent any disturbances following all-night parties that take place on university grounds.
Police said all 313 people were released without charge.
Such attacks against riot police near the university campus are not unusual, but this is the first time that so many people have been detained following such a clash, during which an unusually large number of firebombs were used.
Riot police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the attackers. Police said one officer was taken to a military hospital with burns to his face and leg, while a 21-year-old civilian was treated for respiratory problems.
The university said in a statement that “extremists” outside the campus had carried out the attacks in conjunction with some individuals within the university grounds. He said an investigation is underway to determine whether any students participated. He said that permission was not given to organize any party on the university grounds.
