A protester’s leg was engulfed in flames from a Molotov cocktail thrown by other protesters during protests that took place on Egnatia Street, Thessaloniki, at the university’s theological school.
The protester received first aid from police officers, who had been at the scene earlier to immobilize him, the Proto Thema news outlet reported. One of the police officers, who was also hit by a Molotov cocktail, extinguished the fire that spread on the young man’s leg using a fire blanket. The student protests, attended by Antifa and other extremist elements, started peacefully but quickly descended into violence.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Civil Protection, the injured protester was arrested because he had thrown Molotov cocktails. Police found another Molotov cocktail in his possession along with a pair of protective gloves. The man was taken to the hospital.
During the arrest, one of the officers suffered burns to his left thigh and was taken to the hospital as well.
Several incidents also happened earlier in the center of Thessaloniki during the rally.
People in hoods and masks blocked the outside of the university with garbage cans and began to throw stones, objects, and Molotov cocktails at police in the courtyard of the theological school.
A group of Antifa and far left extremists participating in a student march attacked police forces with Molotov cocktails.
The police responded by using tear gas and stun grenades.
At least one protester was injured during the events at the theological school.
A parked car was engulfed in flames and others were damaged. The march started at the Statue of Eleftherios Venizelos, with protesters demanding the government withdraw a new law concerning higher education. The protest ended outside the building of the Rector’s Office of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Title image: A protester, bottom, and riot policeman react after catching fire from a gasoline bomb during a protest in the northern city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Thursday, April 15, 2021. The protester was arrested on suspicion of throwing a gasoline bomb, authorities said. Clashes between small groups of demonstrators and police broke out in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki at the end of a march to protest a new law allowing the policing of university campuses. (AP Photo/Achilleas Chiras)
