Business Standard

Greek newspaper's offices attacked in fascism row

Image

AFP Athens
A group of men vandalised the offices of a Greek newspaper accused of supporting a neo-Nazi party which is suspected of being behind the murder of an anti fascist musician, a police source has said.

The scandal-prone Proto Thema newspaper has come under fire for publishing a photograph of a 34-year-old rapper Pavlos Fyssas as he lay dying in his girlfriend's arms last week after being stabbed by a self-confessed neo-Nazi.

Shortly after 8:00pm (1700 GMT) a group of more than 15 men smashed windows and threw stones and paint at the offices of the top-selling newspaper, situated in the northern Athens suburb of Maroussi, the source said.
 

While the building was damaged, no one was injured.

The attackers, who also damaged some parked cars, left leaflets at the scene accusing the newspaper of supporting fascism.

The murder of Fyssas -- who wrote music under the nickname Killah P -- on September 18 by an alleged member of neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn shocked the country and has sparked a wave of sometimes violent protests.

On Wednesday protesters hurled petrol bombs at anti-riot police in Athens as thousands took to the street around the country in anti-fascist protests.

Unemployed truck driver George Roupakias, 45, has admitted stabbing Fyssas but claims he was acting in self-defence.

Roupakias insists he only has loose affiliations with Golden Dawn and the party has vehemently denied links to the killer. However pictures have emerged of Roupakias participating in party activities.

The killing has also prompted a police crackdown on Golden Dawn after months of inaction over the group's implication in assaults on migrants and political opponents.

"We will fight against every kind of violence, no matter what its origins are," government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said in a statement shortly after the attack.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Sep 27 2013 | 3:35 AM IST

Explore News