Protests resume in Athens & Thessaloniki

Protests over the police shooting death of a teenager resumed in Athens and Thessaloniki on 16 December 2008, following a two-day lull in violence. In Athens, masked protesters hurled Molotov cocktails and rocks at the riot police headquarters, severely damaging vehicles in the area. Protesters also blocked streets near the main court complex and briefly occupied the state television channel. During the overnight hours, at least three Athens-area banks were damaged in Molotov cocktail attacks. In Thessaloniki, approximately 300 demonstrators gathered outside the main court complex and threw rocks and other objects at police officers, who fired tear gas to disperse them. There were no reports of injuries.