Minister says 'Exarchia-related' violence can't be solved with police measures

The relevant minister in charge of public safety on Wednesday again commented on the decades-old scourge of hooliganism in the form of "anarchist-inspired" violence that erupts periodically in central Athens.

Yiannis Papounis' latest statements come after Tuesday evening's usual "itinerary" of firebombs, torched cars and trash bins, rock-throwing at police and vandalism usually associated with the "phenomenon". The perpetrators are usually teens and young adults, some hooded, mostly active near Exarchia square, considered a "hub" of Athens' "anarchist scene".

According to Panousis, a moderate leftist and criminology professor by training, police alone cannot solve such instances of violence and related "occupations" or "squats" by the same groups of young people of affiliated "compañeros".

Tuesday's incidents, on the sidelines of a rally against maximum security prison and assorted other demands, included the scrawling of graffiti on the square in front of Parliament where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located.

"When you don't take mild measures against a medium-sized occupation, it will grow, and then you will take even harsher measures, but this is an issue for the government ? We're at risk of everything that isn't liked by the people turning into an occupation," he warned.

Asked about Tuesday evening's violence, and why police did not intervene, he said: "Social and political phenomena, such as the ones of Exarchia, and these slogans refers to the entire restoration of democracy (post-1974) period. What would be solved with a (police) operation in Exarchia?; it's been burning for 40 years."

On his part, Interior (Home) Minister Nikos Voutsis, who more-or-less supervises Panousis' portfolio, tried to downplay the latest...