Strong foreign presence among rioters in Athens

Following the arrest of more than a dozen non-Greeks during riots in central Athens on Wednesday, police officers told Kathimerini that there have been other recent cases of rioters from abroad being caught and that some of them have told authorities they were paid to take part in the disturbances.

A total of 26 people were arrested on Wednesday night, of whom 14 were foreigners. Police said a Syrian, a Pakistani and a Georgian were arrested during similar clashes on July 5, after the referendum.

Officers attributed the high presence of foreigners among the rioters to the links between Greek anarchists and groups in other European countries as well as migrants joining local anti-establishment protesters.

A Citizens’ Protection Ministry official told Kathimerini that some of the non-Greeks arrested for disturbances told police they were paid 20 to 30 euros to take part.