Athens: Police raid in Skaramaga squat

Following the eviction and arrests in Villa Amalias squat during the morning of January 9th, a police raid in the Patission 61 & Skaramaga squat is underway. At about 15.00pm, anti-riot squadrons smashed the door and stormed in the building.

Short announcement by the collective of Skaramaga squat about the raid:

15.56pm: A police raid took place today (9/1) at 15.00pm in the Patission 61 & Skaramaga squat. Seven comrades are inside the building (currently witnessing the police search in the squat). The repressive operation came vindictively few hours after the re-occupation of Villa Amalias and the occupation of DIMAR headquarters, which resulted in their eviction as well as the arrest and detention of approximately 150 comrades.

The tripartite government, the police and the ΝΑΤ (Merchant Seamen’s Pension Fund that claims ownership of the building) are mainly responsible for this attack. They will find us against them.

Hands off the squats! Immediate release of all arrestees/detainees!

Immediate withdrawal of repression forces from both Villa Amalias squat and Skaramaga squat

Update 18.40pm: There is a protest gathering underway in front of the police headquarters on Alexandras Avenue, attended by approximately 1,500 people in solidarity with the morning arrestees of Villa Amalias (the detainees of the DIMAR occupied offices have reportedly been released).

Meanwhile, at Skaramaga squat on Patission street, the seven comrades who were inside the building at the time of the police invasion are now being held in a police van, just outside the squat (they have not been transferred to any police department as of yet). No lawyers are permitted in the squat and no one had any direct communication with the detained comrades so far. Police continue to search the building’s interior, and have been taking photographs of its spaces and confiscated some computers.

The squatters have released their own archive photos from the building, thus explaining in short their various different activities, in response to the police and mass media vultures that will not hesitate to portray them as ‘criminals’; check the comrades’ images here.

Update 21.02pm: After being held hostages for hours inside a police van, all detained comrades from inside Skaramaga squat have now been taken to the Omonia police department.