During a weekend of unrest in Athens, police arrested over 70 individuals as violent clashes erupted in the Exarchia neighborhood. The riots began following a music performance in a nearby park, escalating into widespread chaos as protesters hurled Molotov cocktails, stones, and fireworks at police, igniting vehicles in the area.

Local authorities reported that 72 people were detained, with one officer sustaining injuries during the confrontations. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the disturbances intensified late Saturday night, specifically around the junction of Kallidromiou and E. Benaki streets. In response to the aggression, police employed chemical agents to disperse the crowd.

The turmoil unfolded just days after a bomb exploded near the offices of Hellenic Train, Greece’s primary railway operator. Fortunately, the explosion caused limited damage and resulted in no injuries, as the attackers had notified two media outlets shortly before the detonation.

This unrest coincides with the second anniversary of a devastating railway disaster in which 57 people lost their lives when a freight and passenger train were mistakenly placed on the same track. The incident highlighted significant flaws in Greece’s railway safety system, prompting protests from victims’ relatives against the current government.

In recent weeks, numerous demonstrations have taken place across Greece, with citizens rallying for higher wages amid soaring living costs. Popular demand for better financial support continues, as many households struggle to manage increasing expenses for food, housing, and utilities, despite the government’s cumulative 35% increase in the minimum wage since 2019.