Greek protester wanders through clouds of tear gas holding a gallows - Thessaloniki, Greece

Taken during the anti-austerity protests in Thessaloniki, Greece that were violently ended when riot police attacked. The man was carrying a gallows and stayed behind even after tear gas cannisters starting landing in Aristotelous Square.

Tear gas and violence put an end to Greek austerity demonstrations

Greeks take part in anti-austerity protest march - Thessaloniki, Greece, a photo by Teacher Dude's BBQ on Flickr.

Last night's protest rally saw a large turnout as about 20,000 people gathered in the central Aristotelous Square and then marched through down town Thessaloniki.

However, once the march returned to the Square violence broke out and police repeatedly attacked the rally, using tear gas and truncheons, often against people who had no involvement with any act of violence. (see video below).



Riot squad units also lashed out indiscriminately at marchers outside the Olympion cinema which had been occupied yesterday by groups opposed to the latest round of austerity measures.



At least two people were injured in the attack including one man who was taken to hospital with head wounds received during the police charge.

Photographs and video from Greek anti-government march on 23rd February 2011 - Thessaloniki.

More pictures and video from the marches that accompanied the general strike last week. The person taking the video was also attacked by police officers who often employed batons and tear gas indiscriminately to break up the march. In addition to this the riot police also made extensive use of military grade ordinance which is intended for special forces anti-terrorist operations in the form of the N591 stun grenade. This is the third occasion (I've witnessed this in the last year alone. See here and here for the previous two instances).



At 8 mins 20 sec you can see footage of the police attacking the camera operator as they tried to film the arrest of a demonstrator. I also saw uniformed officers clubbing marchers on Tsimiski Street who had not been involved in any acts of violence and clearly posed them no threat.

The video was originally posted on the We Are Change Greece website which has a description of the events shown in Greek and English.

Another video from the Antipliroforisi (Anti-misinformation) site from the same demo showing police using tear gas, flash greandes and motorcycles to stampede demonstrators along the main street in Thessaloniki.

Kettled and tear gassed

Kettled and tear gassed, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Taken yesterday in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Incoming

Incoming - tear gas cannisters about to land in the university of Thessaloniki, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Tear gas cannisters about to land in the university of Thessaloniki. I can't think of many things worse than being tear gassed. Your lungs just stop drawing oxygen and for what seems like an eternity you feel that you'll never breathe again. The stinging eyes I can hack but the feeling that someone has just removed your lungs, is scary beyond belief.