Syntagma Sqaure is a battlefield

Syntagma Square is resembling a battlefield at the moment, where new clashes are occurring between protesters and the police, with tear gas falling every other second on Vasilissis Sofias.

From the clashes there have been many injuries and the Special Forces of Police have blocked the stairs towards Parliament. According to information, 300 protesters are trapped in the Syntagma metro station with breathng problems.

Protesters have managed to break through the railings that the police has set up around the monument in front of Parliament and have thrown Molotov bombs at the police. A police officer was seen throwing a flash grenade at the crowd. More clashes are on Amalias street and most protesters have left Syntagma and have gone towards Panepistimiou Street.

Protesters are slowly surrounding the parliament, arriving from all over Greece;the atmosphere is tense and a few incidents occurred early on, resulting in minor injuries. 

The incidents started at 10am. A group of citizens tried to block V. Sofias, opposite the Hilton hotel, but were pushed back by riot police using tear gas, while one protester with a head injury was taken to hospital. Riot police made extensive use of chemicals at Kallimarmaro and the protesters threw stones at them. 

Tension ved to Pagrati, with protesters setting bins on fire on Eratosthenous str. 

Fortunately, there are no worries about the health of the 8 people that were injured during the incidents at Evangelismos and Kallimarmaro, when the the Indignant citizens met in order to get to Syntagma square. 

According to the health ministry’s announcement, from the 8 injured people (7 men and 1 woman) who were taken to Evangelismos hospital, 2 experienced respiratory problems and have been released already, and the remaining 6 had minor cuts and injuries that were dealt with in the outpatient clinic. 

However, a large crowd has already gathered at Syntagma square, with protesters arriving from Thessaloniki and Peloponnisos; they will be joined by Indignants from Larisa, Halkida, Crete and Patra. 

But many Indignants who are trying to reach Syntagma square from various neighborhoods of Athens are reporting that police have “trapped” them in several places. 

Traffic chaos prevails in the centre of Athens, while the streets surrounding Syntagma have been blocked since early in the morning. The metro station at Evangelismos has been shut since 10am. It should be noted that the iron railings have been pout up once again at V. Sofias, next to the florists. 

Apart from the Indignants, PAME members will also rally at the city centre, as they have scheduled a meeting at Omonia square at 10am and a march toward parliament. GSEE and ADEDY will have their own rally at 7pm in Klafthmonos square.