3 injured at Athens march held in memory of slain musician

ATHENS, Greece – Stone-throwing youths injured three people and clashed with riot police Monday during an Athens protest march in memory of an activist musician killed four years ago by a supporter of the Nazi-inspired Golden Dawn party.

Police used stun grenades to disperse the rioters in the capital’s western suburb of Keratsini.

Two bystanders were injured by flying stones, and a member of a Greek TV crew covering the march was beaten up by protesters. Police detained three suspected rioters.

Youths smashed the windows of a local municipal building, damaged and looted a coffee shop and threw at least one gasoline bomb at police. About 2,200 people took part in two separate marches organized by left-wing groups.

In the northern city of Thessaloniki, another protest in memory of the slain singer degenerated into clashes with police, who fired tear gas and stun grenades after coming under attack with Molotov cocktails and rocks. Rioters also smashed up a coffee shop.

A similar protest Sunday in central Athens ended in violence, with riot police using tear gas against protesters using gasoline bombs. One detained youth was injured after being struck by a car while trying to escape from custody.